The effects of calcium benzoate in diets with or without organic acids on dietary buffering capacity, apparent digestibility, retention of nutrients, and manure characteristics in swine.

Abstract

Eight barrows (Yorkshire x [Finnish Landrace x Dutch Landrace]), initially 30 kg BW, were fitted with ileal cannulas to evaluate the effects of supplementing Ca benzoate (2.4%) and organic acids (OA) in the amount of 300 mEq acid/kg feed on dietary buffering capacity (BC), apparent digestibility and retention of nutrients, and manure characteristics. Swine were allotted in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments according to a cyclic (8 x 5) changeover design. Two tapioca-corn-soybean meal-based diets were formulated without and with acidogenic Ca benzoate. Each diet was fed in combination with OA (none, formic, fumaric, or n-butyric acid). Daily rations were equal to 2.8 x maintenance requirement (418 kJ ME/BW(.75)) and were given in two portions. Chromic oxide (.25 g/kg) was used as a marker. On average, Ca benzoate lowered BC by 54 mEq/kg feed. This salt enhanced (P < .05) the ileal digestibility (ID) of DM, OM, arginine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, alanine, aspartic acid, and tyrosine (by up to 2.4 percentage units). Also, the total tract digestibility (TD) of DM, ash, Ca and GE, and Ca retention (percentage of intake) was greater (P < .05) in swine fed Ca benzoate, whereas N retention remained unaffected. Addition of all OA (formic and n-butyric acid, in particular) exerted a positive effect (P < .05) on the ID of amino acids (except for arginine, methionine, and cysteine). A similar effect (P < .05) was found for the TD of DM, OM, CP, Ca and total P and for the retention of N and Ca. In swine fed Ca benzoate, urinary pH decreased by 1.6 units (P < .001). In conclusion, dietary OA have a beneficial effect on the apparent ileal/total tract nutrient digestibilities, and Ca benzoate increased urine acidity, which could be effective against a rapid ammonia emission from manure of swine.

Effects of a dietary organic acid mixture and of dietary fibre levels on ileal and faecal nutrient apparent digestibility, bacterial nitrogen flow, microbial metabolite concentrations and rate of passage in the digestive tract of pigs

“…The dietary organic acid mixture improved the faecal digestibility of ether extract, whereas it produced only a tendency towards improvement in ileal apparent digestibility. The positive effect of organic acid on ether extract digestibility is in agreement with previous results (Mroz et al, 2000;Partanen et al, 2001) and it may result from changes in microbial activity in the digestive tract. Microbial deconjugation and dehydroxylation of bile impair lipid absorption by the host animal.…”

“…The dietary pH decreased with increasing barley fibre inclusions, which is explained by the lower pH of barley fibre (below 3.5) compared with that of barley (5.8) and soya-bean meal (6.8). The dietary organic acid mixture consisted primarily of formic acid, and it lowered the dietary pH by 0.78 to 0.96 pH units, which is in agreement with previous studies (Partanen et al, 2001;Mroz et al, 2000). The pH-lowering effect of the organic acid mixture was greatest in the medium-fibre diet, and 100% of the added formic acid was recovered in the analyses of this diet.…”

“…The dietary organic acid mixture improved the ileal apparent digestibility of protein and of 14 of the 17 amino acids analysed. Improved ileal amino acid apparent digestibilities have been reported when diets for growing-finishing pigs have been supplemented with propionic , lactic (Kemme et al, 1999), formic (Mroz et al, 2000;Partanen et al, 2001), butyric, or fumaric acid (Mroz et al, 2000). In the present experiment, the ileal amino acid apparent digestibilities were improved by 0.015 to 0.027.…”

“…Several studies have demonstrated that dietary organic acids improve the ileal apparent digestibility of protein and amino acids in growing-finishing pigs Kemme et al, 1999;Mroz et al, 2000;Partanen et al, 2001). A common hypothesis has been that dietary acidification improves protein digestibility by lowering gastric pH, which consequently increases pepsin activity.…”

Effect of sodium butyrate and Yucca schidigera extract on bone characteristics in growing pigs

“…Among the currently available alternatives that might substitute antibiotics as growth promoters in diets for young pigs, organic acids are one of the most promising. Most studies have been conducted using formic, lactic, citric, and other acids (16,22). In the last few years, beneficial effects of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were confirmed in pigs (12,16) and in laying hens (28).…”