Neutral detergent fibre in piglet diets: performance and gastrointestinal implications

Abstract

The intestinal health of piglets depends on the balance between diet, microflora and mucosal integrity. Disruption of this balance can compromise the digestive functions, leading to diarrhoeal frame and decline in performance of piglets. However, the level and type of fibre can limit digestive disorders. Thirty newly weaned piglets were used to evaluate the levels of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in diets regarding performance, pH, viscosity and concentration of short chain fatty acids of digestive contents, gastrointestinal transit time, morphology of the intestinal mucosa, weights of organs and occurrence of diarrhoea. NDF level had quadratic effect on weight gain and feed conversion ratio of piglets, estimating best results at the level of 10.4%. NDF level had no effect on the pH, viscosity and concentration of short chain fatty acids. NDF levels below 10.2% or above 13.5% reduced the transit time of digesta. There was quadratic effect on villus height in the duodenum and jejunum and in the crypt depth of jejunum. There was linear increase in stomach, caecum and colon weights and linear decrease in the occurrence of diarrhoea according to increasing NDF levels. It is concluded that levels below 10.2% and above 13.5% reduce the transit time of digesta, whereas 12.2% NDF level results in better mucosa structure of the small intestinal, with an increase in the weights of the stomach, caecum and colon and a reduction in the occurrence of diarrhoea with increasing NDF level in diets, resulting in better performance of weaned piglets with 10.4% of NDF.Index terms: Short chain fatty acids; pigs; transit time; viscosity. RESUMOA saúde intestinal em leitões depende do equilíbrio entre dieta, microflora e integridade da mucosa. Perturbações desse equilíbrio podem comprometer as funções digestivas, conduzindo a quadro diarreico e queda no desempenho dos leitões. Nesse sentido, o nível e tipo de fibra podem limitar as perturbações digestivas. Utilizou-se 30 leitões recém desmamados objetivando avaliar níveis de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) nas dietas sobre o desempenho, pH, viscosidade concentração de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta dos conteúdos digestivos, tempo de trânsito gastrointestinal, do ceco, morfologia da mucosa intestinal, pesos dos órgãos e ocorrência de diarreia. Observou-se efeito quadrático do nível de FDN sobre o ganho de peso e conversão alimentar dos leitões, estimando-se melhores resultados no nível de 10,4%. Não houve efeito do nível de FDN sobre o pH, viscosidade e concentração de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta da digesta. Níveis de FDN abaixo 10.2 ou acima de 13,5% reduziu o tempo de trânsito da digesta. Houve efeito quadrático sobre a altura das vilosidades do duodeno e jejuno e na profundidade das criptas do jejuno. Houve aumento linear no peso do estômago e do ceco e cólon e redução linear na ocorrência de diarreia conforme houve aumento dos níveis de FDN. Concluiu-se que níveis abaixo de 10,2 e acima de 13,5% reduzem o tempo de trânsito da digesta, enquanto que o nível de 12,2% de NDF ...

Meta-analytical study of the effect of fibers in neutral detergent and acidic detergent in the diet of finishing pigs

“…The strongest correlations (greater than 0.600; P < 0.01) were observed between feed conversion and inclusion of fibrous ingredient and with the consumption of fibers in feed. NEPOMUCENO et al (2016) reported that higher levels of NDF in the diet directly affect the performance of pigs, since they negatively affect digestibility and thus the energy intake of animals to Table 4 -Correlations of the dietary fiber content with the performance responses and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs.…”

“…ANIMAL PRODUCTION of crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. The methods used to measure the fibrous fractions of foods are correlated to simulate enzymatic digestion, but with difficult practical application (NEPOMUCENO et al, 2016) and or have limitations such as crude fiber. The method proposed by Van Soest (1967) determines the fractions of neutral detergent fiber (Hemicellulose and cellulose) and acid detergent fiber (cellulose) insoluble fractions (PASCOAL & WATANABE, 2014;NEPUCENO et al, 2018).…”

Chestnut extract but not sodium salicylate decrease the severity of diarrhea and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 shedding in artificially infected piglets

“…Increasing the content of less-fermentable fiber is associated with a reduction in E. coli count in the feces [36]. In a recent study, Nepomuceno et al observed a linear decrease in the occurrence of diarrhea when NDF content was increased from 8.5 to16.5% [37]. Hence, in addition to the hydrolysable tannins, the 2% unit greater NDF content in the diet containing CE could have partially helped in reducing both ETEC shedding and the occurrence of diarrhea.…”

Chestnut extract but not sodium salicylate decreases the severity of diarrhea and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 shedding in artificially infected piglets

“…Increasing the content of less-fermentable fiber is associated with a reduction in E. coli count in the feces [37]. In a recent study, Nepomuceno et al observed a linear decrease in the occurrence of diarrhea when NDF content was increased from 8.5 to 16.5% [38]. Hence, in addition to the hydrolysable tannins, the 2% unit greater NDF content in the diet containing CE could have partially helped in reducing both ETEC shedding and the occurrence of diarrhea.…”