Organic acids and their salts appear to be potential alternatives to prophylactic in-feed antibiotics and growth promoters in order to improve the performance of weaned piglets, fattening pigs and reproductive sows, although their growth-promoting effects are generally less than that of antibiotics. Based on an analysis of published data, the growth-promoting effect of formates, fumarates and citrates did not differ in weaned piglets. In fattening pigs, formates were the most effective followed by fumarates, whereas propionates did not improve growth performance. These acids improved the feed : gain ratio of both weaned piglets and fattening pigs. In weaned piglets, the growth-promoting effects of dietary organic acids appear to depend greatly on their in¯uence on feed intake. In sows, organic acids may have anti-agalactia properties. Successful application of organic acids in the diets for pigs requires an understanding of their modes of action. It is generally considered that dietary organic acids or their salts lower gastric pH, resulting in increased activity of proteolytic enzymes and gastric retention time, and thus improved protein digestion. Reduced gastric pH and increased retention time have been dif®cult to demonstrate, whereas improved apparent ileal digestibilities of protein and amino acids have been observed with growing pigs, but not in weaned piglets. Organic acids may in¯uence mucosal morphology, as well as stimulate pancreatic secretions, and they also serve as substrates in intermediary metabolism. These may further contribute to improved digestion, absorption and retention of many dietary nutrients. Organic acid supplementation reduces dietary buffering capacity, which is expected to slow down the proliferation andaor colonization of undesirable microbes, e.g. Escherichia coli, in the gastro-ileal region. However, reduced scouring has been observed in only a few studies. As performance responses to dietary organic acids in pigs often varies, more speci®c studies are necessary to elucidate an explanation.

Six barrows of approximately 37 kg BW, fitted with two simple T-cannulas in the duodenum (25 cm posterior to the pylorus) and terminal ileum (12 to 15 cm anterior to the ileocecal junction), were fed two diets containing 2.1 g of P/kg in the form of phytic acid and a low intrinsic phytase activity (corn-soybean meal based diet [Diet A] or a typical Dutch diet [Diet B]) without or with supplementary microbial phytase from Aspergillus niger (var. ficuum) equal to 1,500 phytase units per kilogram of diet, in a crossover design. The apparent duodenal, ileal, and total tract (overall) digestibilities of DM, total P, and phytate P (phytic acid x .282) were calculated using both Cr-NDR (neutral detergent residue mordanted with Cr) and Co-EDTA as dual-phase markers. Concentration of total P in the ileal digesta (P less than .01) and feces (P less than .001) of pigs fed microbial phytase was lower than without this enzyme, irrespective of the diet. Ileal digestibility of total P was 18.5 and 29.8 percentage units higher (which was a 1.7- to 2.9-fold increase) due to added Aspergillus niger phytase (P less than .05). Also, total tract (overall) digestibility increased by 27.0 to 29.7 percentage units (P less than .01). Phytic acid concentration in the duodenal and ileal digesta of pigs receiving microbial phytase was lower (P less than .01 or .001), resulting in its higher ileal digestibility (dephosphorylation rate) by 50.1 percentage units for Diet A and by 75.4 percentage units for Diet B. Irrespective of the treatment, no phytase activity could be detected in the ileal digesta of pigs.

Five barrows of approximately 45 kg BW, fitted with post-valvular T-cecum cannulas at the ileo-cecal junction, were assigned randomly to five treatments (5 x 5 Latin square design) to assess the effect of microbial phytase and feeding regimen (frequency and level) on the apparent digestibilities (total tract [ATTD] and ileal [AID]) and retention of nutrients. A corn-tapioca-soybean meal diet of low intrinsic phytase activity, containing no added inorganic P, was fed either without or with microbial phytase from Aspergillus niger var. Van Tieghem (800 phytase units/kg of diet) at different feeding frequencies (once, twice, or seven times per day) and feeding levels (2.3 vs 2.8 times the maintenance requirement for ME, i.e., 418 kJ ME/BW.75). Microbial phytase enhanced significantly the ATTD of DM, OM, CP, Ca, total P, and amino acids (except for cystine and proline). Also, the AID of total P, phytic acid, methionine, and arginine was increased (P < .05 or .01). As a consequence of adding this enzyme, the retention (grams/day) of N, Ca, and P was greater (P < .01) and their daily excretion was diminished by 5.5, 2.2, and 1.9 g/d, respectively. The feeding level exerted a minor effect on the ATTD and AID (except for methionine and cystine), although the retention (grams/day) of N, Ca, and P was greater (P < .01) at the higher level of feeding. The feeding frequency influenced significantly the ATTD of Ca, tryptophan, and isoleucine and the AID of phytic acid, cystine, arginine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine. Also, N retention (grams/day) was reduced in pigs fed once daily (P < .01).

We performed an experiment with 112 piglets, 32 growing-finishing pigs, and 12 sows during pregnancy and lactation to test the hypotheses that apparent total tract digestibilities of P and Ca as well as the efficacy of Aspergillus niger phytase in rendering phytate P available in pigs depend on pig physiological status. All pigs were fed diets with identical feedstuff composition either without or with added microbial phytase (Natuphos, 500 FTU/kg diet). The diets contained 6.2 g Ca, 4.8 g total P, and 3.7 g phytate P per kilogram, and intrinsic phytase activity of 120 FTU/kg. The digestibility of P increased by 8.3 percentage units when BW of pigs increased from 30 to 60 kg and then remained stable until 100 kg. Pregnant sows had a lower efficiency of P absorption than piglets and growing-finishing pigs. During lactation, the efficiency of P absorption was 3.4 percentage units higher than during pregnancy but was still 6.6 percentage units lower than for growing-finishing pigs. The efficacy of the phytase in generating digestible P decreased in the order or lactating sows, growing-finishing pigs, sows at the end of pregnancy, piglets, and sows at midpregnancy; the average amounts of generated digestible P were 1.03, .83, .74, .66, and .32 g/kg diet, respectively. The addition of phytase to the diet raised apparent Ca digestibility in the piglets and growing-finishing pigs (by 4.6 and 4.0 percentage units, respectively) but not in the sows. We conclude that in the formulation of swine diets the amount of phytase to be added should be tailored to the target category.

Eight barrows (Yorkshire x [Finnish Landrace x Dutch Landrace]), initially 30 kg BW, were fitted with ileal cannulas to evaluate the effects of supplementing Ca benzoate (2.4%) and organic acids (OA) in the amount of 300 mEq acid/kg feed on dietary buffering capacity (BC), apparent digestibility and retention of nutrients, and manure characteristics. Swine were allotted in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments according to a cyclic (8 x 5) changeover design. Two tapioca-corn-soybean meal-based diets were formulated without and with acidogenic Ca benzoate. Each diet was fed in combination with OA (none, formic, fumaric, or n-butyric acid). Daily rations were equal to 2.8 x maintenance requirement (418 kJ ME/BW(.75)) and were given in two portions. Chromic oxide (.25 g/kg) was used as a marker. On average, Ca benzoate lowered BC by 54 mEq/kg feed. This salt enhanced (P < .05) the ileal digestibility (ID) of DM, OM, arginine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, alanine, aspartic acid, and tyrosine (by up to 2.4 percentage units). Also, the total tract digestibility (TD) of DM, ash, Ca and GE, and Ca retention (percentage of intake) was greater (P < .05) in swine fed Ca benzoate, whereas N retention remained unaffected. Addition of all OA (formic and n-butyric acid, in particular) exerted a positive effect (P < .05) on the ID of amino acids (except for arginine, methionine, and cysteine). A similar effect (P < .05) was found for the TD of DM, OM, CP, Ca and total P and for the retention of N and Ca. In swine fed Ca benzoate, urinary pH decreased by 1.6 units (P < .001). In conclusion, dietary OA have a beneficial effect on the apparent ileal/total tract nutrient digestibilities, and Ca benzoate increased urine acidity, which could be effective against a rapid ammonia emission from manure of swine.