Effects of short-term feeding with high fiber diets on growth, utilization of dietary fiber, and microbiota in pigs

Abstract

Finishing pigs can adapt to high-fiber diet smoothly according to the production performance and their intestinal microbiota through a 28-day trial or longer. However, it is unclear, at which stage during the experimental period, the adaptation occurred. Here we studied the dosage effects of dietary fiber (Total dietary fiber (TDF) from 16.70 to 24.11%) on growth performance, fiber digestibility, fecal microbiota, and microbial fermentation of finishing pigs during a 14-day feeding period. The results showed that the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed/gain (F/G) of pigs were not affected as the dietary fiber increased. Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of cellulose, hemicellulose, insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), soluble dietary fiber (SDF), and TDF of pigs remained unchanged when TDF was between 16.70 and 17.75%, while strikingly decreased when TDF increased from 17.75 to 24.11%. It is worth noting that increasing fiber intake seemed to favor hemicellulose digestion. In addition, the increase in fiber intake increased fecal microbial diversity, especially improved the proportion of the members of the family Prevotellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae, and decreased the abundance of the genus Streptococcus. Moreover, the increase in fiber intake promoted the digestion of fiber, production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and enhanced microbial pyruvate metabolism and butanoate metabolism. In conclusion, short-term high fiber feeding has no adverse effects on the growth performance of finishing pigs. ATTD of dietary fiber of finishing pigs was maintained when TDF was at 17.75%. And short-term high fiber feeding improved microbial diversity and fiber degradation functions of finishing pigs.

Salidroside alleviates ulcerative colitis via inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis and repairing the dysbacteriosis‐associated Th17/Treg imbalance

“…As shown in Figure S3e, Gram‐negative bacteria abundances were downregulated after salidroside treatment (68.94% to 48.97%, p = .0028), which might participate in the effect of salidroside on macrophage pyroptosis. Most species in Firmicutes were Gram‐positive bacteria and raised by salidroside, especially Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, which have been reported to strengthen intestinal barrier via metabolism production (Keshteli et al, 2022; Pu et al, 2022). Actually, general decrease in dominant genera of Firmicute is a common feature of UC patients, such as Faecalibacterium and Roseburia, in which Faecalibacterium prausnitzii has been reported to induce specific Treg to maintain immunity homeostasis (Touch et al, 2022).…”

Identification of Gut Microbiota Affecting Fiber Digestibility in Pigs

“…Pu et al also showed that as dietary fifiber increased, SCFAs production and microbial pyruvate metabolism and butanoate metabolism increased. Meanwhile, members of Prevotellaceae , Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospiraceae have been linked to the fermentation of plant-derived non-starch polysaccharides to SCFAs [ 49 ]. As expected, a number of the predicted functions of these potential biomarkers in the H-AD of NDF and ADF were associated with microbial cell metabolism in the present study.…”

Effects of Dietary Fiber on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Intestinal Health in Different Pig Breeds

“…In contrast, lignin, a high molecular weight polymer, cannot be broken down in the digestive tract [ 9 , 10 ]. Previous studies indicated that various microorganisms in the hindgut can ferment DF to produce a number of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which not only promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms, but also improve the intestinal integrity and functions [ 11 , 12 ]. A diet rich in DF has also been found to reduce the risk of many dietary problems such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and Crohn’s disease in humans [ 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”