Effects of alginate and resistant starch on feeding patterns, behaviour and performance in ad libitum-fed growing pigs

Abstract

This study assessed the long-term effects of feeding diets containing either a gelling fibre (alginate (ALG)), or a fermentable fibre (resistant starch (RS)), or both, on feeding patterns, behaviour and growth performance of growing pigs fed ad libitum for 12 weeks. The experiment was set up as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: inclusion of ALG (yes or no) and inclusion of RS (yes or no) in the control diet, resulting in four dietary treatments, that is, ALG−RS− (control), ALG+RS− , ALG−RS+ , and ALG+RS+ . Both ALG and RS were exchanged for pregelatinized potato starch. A total of 240 pigs in 40 pens were used. From all visits to an electronic feeding station, feed intake and detailed feeding patterns were calculated. Apparent total tract digestibility of energy, dry matter (DM), and CP was determined in week 6. Pigs' postures and behaviours were scored from live observations in weeks 7 and 12. Dietary treatments did not affect final BW and average daily gain (ADG). ALG reduced energy and DM digestibility (P < 0.01). Moreover, ALG increased average daily DM intake, and reduced backfat thickness and carcass gain : digestible energy (DE) intake (P < 0.05). RS increased feed intake per meal, meal duration (P < 0.05) and inter-meal intervals (P = 0.05), and reduced the number of meals per day (P < 0.01), but did not affect daily DM intake. Moreover, RS reduced energy, DM and CP digestibility (P < 0.01). Average daily DE intake was reduced (P < 0.05), and gain : DE intake tended to be increased (P = 0.07), whereas carcass gain : DE intake was not affected by RS. In week 12, ALG+RS− increased standing and walking, aggressive, feeder-directed, and drinking behaviours compared with ALG+RS+ (ALG × RS interaction, P < 0.05), with ALG−RS− and ALG−RS+ in between. No other ALG × RS interactions were found. In conclusion, pigs fed ALG compensated for the reduced dietary DE content by increasing their feed intake, achieving similar DE intake and ADG as control pigs. Backfat thickness and carcass efficiency were reduced in pigs fed ALG, which also showed increased physical activity. Pigs fed RS changed feeding patterns, but did not increase their feed intake. Despite a lower DE intake, pigs fed RS achieved similar ADG as control pigs by increasing efficiency in DE use. This indicates that the energy utilization of RS in pigs with ad libitum access to feed is close to that of enzymatically digestible starch.Keywords: dietary fibre, digestibility, feeding behaviour, growth, pigs Implications High-fibre diets generally limit energy intake and growth performance in restrictedly-fed finishing pigs. This study showed that not all fibres influence energy intake equally in ad libitum-fed pigs. Moreover, growth performance was overall not reduced, and feed efficiency was enhanced in pigs fed resistant starch, despite lower digestibility. This implies that energy utilization of resistant starch may be similar to that of digestible starch. For diets formulation and manufacturing, this could mean reduced need for starch gelatinization, wherea...

Enzymatically Modified Starch Ameliorates Postprandial Serum Triglycerides and Lipid Metabolome in Growing Pigs

“…These findings are in line with previously reported impacts of RS2 and RS4 on body fat metabolism in humans, pigs and rodents [6–8]. In contrast to that, present glucose and insulin dynamics did not comply with characteristic effects of RS intake of reduced serum glucose and insulin concentrations previously observed in humans, pigs and rodents in short- and long-term studies [3–7,24,25]. Indeed, the immediate insulin and glucose response was greater in pigs fed the EMS diet compared to pigs fed the control diet, although AUCs 0–480 min for insulin and glucose indicated similar responses for the whole MTT period for both diets.…”

“…The main underlying mechanism of RS to reduce blood cholesterol was thought to be increased intestinal viscosity and bile acid excretion due to RS intake [8,27,28]. Moreover, enhanced intestinal fermentation of RS and subsequent increased intestinal SCFA absorption and systemic metabolism has been also reported to contribute to fasting and postprandial blood triglycerides and cholesterol [25]. Intestinal fermentation parameters as well as serum SCFA were not measured in the present catheterized pigs; therefore, we can only speculate about a relation between intestinal fermentation and serum lipids.…”

“…Because in the present experiment the EMS effect on the phospholipid metabolome was not limited to the early postprandial state but was maintained during the fasting state, the present findings might not be simply explained via an increased serum insulin concentration in the immediate postprandial phase in pigs fed the EMS diet compared to those fed the control diet. Other intestinal and metabolic factors such as gut hormone profiles and intestinally absorbed SCFA may have contributed to the changes in phospholipid metabolome as well [16,25,39,40]. …”

Soluble Fiber with High Water-Binding Capacity, Swelling Capacity, and Fermentability Reduces Food Intake by Promoting Satiety Rather Than Satiation in Rats

“…Pregelatinized waxy maize starch and fructo-oligosaccharide are highly fermentable fibers [38,39], and guar gum is a viscous fiber with high water-binding capacity [3]. This suggests that the combination of fibers with different physicochemical properties may affect the physiological processes (satiation or satiety) of appetite regulation.…”

Enzymatically modified starch up-regulates expression of incretins and sodium-coupled monocarboxylate transporter in jejunum of growing pigs

“…More recent research, however, indicates positive effects of RS consumption in pigs as well. For instance, feeding RS to pigs showed to prolong satiety and reduce feed search behavior, which was associated with a reduced intestinal glucose release as well as enhanced intestinal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production (Heo et al, 2014;Souza da Silva et al, 2014).…”