Effects of Dietary Fructooligosaccharide on Digestive Enzyme Activities, Intestinal Microflora and Morphology of Growing Pigs

Abstract

One hundred and twenty-eight growing barrows (Jiaxing Black×Duroc×Landrace) at an average BW of 20.8 kg were allocated to four treatments for 42 days, each of which was replicated four times with eight pigs per replicate and used to investigate the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on digestive enzyme activities, intestinal microflora and morphology of growing pigs. The pigs received the same basal corn-soybean meal diet and FOS was added to the basal diet at 0, 2, 4, 6 g/kg diet at the expense of corn, respectively. As compared to control, supplementation with 4 and 6 g/kg FOS significantly improved average daily gain and feed efficiency. Addition of FOS enhanced the growth of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, but inhibited Clostridium and Escherichia coli in the small intestinal and proximal colonic contents. Supplementation with 4 and 6 g/kg FOS significantly improved the activities of total protease, trypsin and amylase in the small intestinal contents. However, FOS had no significant effect on the activity of lipase in the small intestinal contents as well as the digestive enzymes in pancreas. Morphological measurement of jejunal mucosa did show response to consumption of FOS. Villus height and the villus height to crypt depth ratio at the jejunal mucosa were significantly higher with 4 and 6 g/kg FOS supplementation as compared to control.

Administration of <i>Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens </i>and <i>Saccharomyces Cerevisiae </i>as Direct-Fed Microbials Improves Intestinal Microflora and Morphology in Broiler Chickens

“…The crypt is known as the villus factory; deeper crypts indicate faster cell turnover to meet the demand for new tissue in response to inflammation or sloughing due to bacterial toxins or pathogen (Yason et al, 1987). Additional tissue turnover leads to nutrient waste in order to maintain intestinal morphology and lowers feed efficiency (Xu et al, 2002). In the current study, treatment with antibiotics, DFM-1 and DFM-2 resulted in increased villus height and villus height / crypt ratio in the ileum.…”

“…Increasing villus height means greater nutrient absorption because of the increase in intestinal surface area (Xu et al, 2002). The crypt is known as the villus factory; deeper crypts indicate faster cell turnover to meet the demand for new tissue in response to inflammation or sloughing due to bacterial toxins or pathogen (Yason et al, 1987).…”

Selenomethionine: an Effective Selenium Source for Sow to Improve Se Distribution, Antioxidant Status, and Growth Performance of Pig Offspring

“…It might be speculated that maternal selenomethionine intake enhanced the digestion of nutrients in its piglets, which was supported by the increased growth performance of piglets from birth to the 28th weaning day. As digestion of nutrients was also affected by the digestive enzyme activity in the small intestine [39], further studies might be needed to systemically reveal the effect of maternal selenomethionine intake on the degradation and absorption of nutrients in piglets.…”

Prebiotics, gut microbiota and metabolic risks: Unveiling the relationship

“…Earlier Xu et al (2002) determined the effect of fructooligosaccharides supplementation on intestinal microflora, digestive enzymes and morphology of growing pigs. One hundred twenty eight growing pigs were allocated to four treatments during a forty-two day trial.…”