Effects of diet complexity and multicarbohydrase supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profile, intestinal morphology, and fecal score in newly weaned pigs

Abstract

To study the effects of diet complexity and multicarbohydrase (MC) supplementation, 144 piglets (6.70 ± 0.81 kg of BW) weaned at 21 ± 2 d of age (1:1 male to female ratio) were assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement based on diet complexity (complex1, complex2, and simple) and MC addition (0 vs. 0.1% of MC). Diets were provided in a 2-phase feeding program with phase I (d 1 to 14) and phase II diets (d 15 to 28). Complex1 was formulated to mimic a conventional weaner diet with blood plasma, fish meal, dried whey, and skim milk powder, whereas complex2 partially or totally replaced these ingredients with various plant-based ingredients. The simple diet primarily comprised corn, wheat, and soybean meal. No interactions were found between diet complexity and MC supplementation ( > 0.10), except for apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of ash and globulin concentration on d 28 ( < 0.05). Pigs fed the complex1 diet had greater ( < 0.01) ADG, ADFI, and G:F than those fed the other diets during the first week after weaning. However, no differences in ADG or ADFI were observed for pigs fed the complex1 and simple diets throughout the 28-d experimental period ( > 0.10), whereas the complex2 diet led to lower ADG and ADFI compared with the complex1 diet ( < 0.05). Overall, G:F was greater for pigs fed the simple diet compared with those fed the complex1 diet ( < 0.01). Pigs fed the simple diet showed ATTD of DM, OM, GE, and ash comparable to those fed the complex1 diet on d 14 ( > 0.10). In contrast, greater ATTD of DM, OM, NDF, GE, and ash was observed ( < 0.05) in pigs fed the complex1 diet than in those fed the complex2 diet or the simple diet on d 28. The simple diet increased the lymphocyte proportion in serum compared with the complex1 diet ( < 0.01) on d 14. Pigs fed the complex1 diet had a greater ( < 0.05) ratio of villus height (VH) to crypt depth (CD) in the ileum compared with the other diets. The complex2 diet decreased ( < 0.05) the fecal score during 3 wk of the postweaning period compared with the complex1 diet. Dietary MC supplementation increased ( < 0.05) G:F during the overall experimental period, VH in the ileum, VH:CD ratio in the duodenum, and ATTD of DM and GE but it reduced fecal score ( < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding a simple diet resulted in BW comparable to feeding the complex1 diet, but it led to inferior intestinal morphology and ATTD of nutrients on d 28. Also, MC supplementation could be beneficial regardless of diet complexity.

Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbial composition of weaned pigs fed multi-enzyme supplemented diets

“…Indeed, supplemental multi-enzymes increased ATTD of GE, NSP, and CP in weaned pigs fed corn-or wheat-based diets (Omogbenigun et al, 2004). Supplemental multi-enzymes also increased ATTD of GE and EE in weaned pigs fed corn-wheat-based diets (Koo et al, 2017). Similarly, multi-enzyme A or B supplementation increased ATTD of EE in the current study.…”

The effects of creep feed composition and form and nursery diet complexity on small intestinal morphology and jejunal mucosa-specific enzyme activities after weaning in pigs

“…Overall, small intestine histomorphology and mucosa enzyme activities were reduced 1 wk after weaning; however, in most cases, by day 59, histomorphology and enzyme activities recovered or exceeded those determined at weaning. One week after weaning, pigs that provided a low-complexity nursery diet experienced a greater reduction in VH and M in the jejunum than those that provided a high-complexity nursery diet, indicating that the inclusion of highly digestible animal proteins (vs. soybean meal) and greater average daily feed intake in nursery phase I ( Christensen and Huber, 2021 ) reduced the extent of weaning-induced damage to the jejunal villi, as also noted by others ( Koo et al, 2017 ; Ma et al, 2019 ). Furthermore, the creep feeding regimen did not prevent postweaning villus atrophy and had minimal impact on the evolution of mucosal-specific enzyme activities after weaning.…”

“…Others have also reported a relationship between increasing soybean meal inclusion ( Ma et al, 2019 ; Koo et al, 2020 ) and lower feed intake ( Pluske et al, 1997 ) on shorter villi. The maintenance of gastrointestinal morphology after weaning is necessary for pigs to retain the nutrient absorptive capacity and, therefore, feed efficiency ( Koo et al, 2017 ). Brush border enzyme activities (including lactase and sucrase) are greater at the apical end of the villi vs. at the base; therefore, more extensive villus atrophy further diminishes brush border enzyme activities, ultimately reducing feed efficiency ( Fan et al, 2001 ; Tsukahara et al, 2013 ).…”

“…Conversely, piglets that consume creep feed or additional supplemental milk replacer during the suckling phase typically have a shorter fasting interval and increased feed intake after weaning, resulting in improvements in growth compared with those not provided creep feed ( Bruininx et al, 2002 ; Miller et al, 2012 ). Moreover, despite some piglets sampling the sows’ diet during the suckling period ( Wattanakul et al, 2005 ), most piglets that are not offered creep feed have no exposure to plant-based ingredients and the accompanying adaptations to the digestive tract necessary to effectively process plant-derived components ( Koo et al, 2017 ). For example, the adaptation of pancreatic and brush border enzyme activities occurs during the first 2 wk after weaning with an initial reduction in activity, after which the activities surpass preweaning levels ( Hampson and Kidder, 1986 ; Jensen et al, 1997 ; Levesque et al, 2012 ).…”

“…Nursery diets are typically formulated to be highly digestible by the immature gastrointestinal tract of the piglet by using animal-derived ingredients (e.g., lactose, whey, and fishmeal; Ma et al, 2019 ). Alternatively, soybean meal is a less expensive protein source but is less digestible ( Cervantes-Pahm and Stein, 2010 ) and contains antigenic compounds that can lead to additional intestinal inflammation ( Koo et al, 2017 , 2020 ; Ma et al, 2019 ). Pigs fed corn- and soybean meal-based (low complexity) diets immediately after weaning experience an initial reduction in average daily gain but are ultimately able to achieve BW comparable to pigs fed highly digestible nursery diets (high complexity) via compensatory growth ( Skinner et al, 2014 ; Huber et al, 2018 ).…”