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Saponin-containing feed additives have shown positive effects on pig performance. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Wild) hull has high saponin content and may be of interest as a feed additive. The present study aimed to evaluate quinoa hull meal (QHM) as a feed additive in a pig diet. The effects of QHM were assessed for three dosages of South American (SA) origin (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) and one dosage of Danish (DK) quinoa (300 mg/kg). In addition, the effect of dietary SA-QHM and SA-QHM-extract on jejunal epithelial physiology was studied ex vivo in Ussing chambers. The experiment included 400 piglets weaned at 28 ± 2 days of age and the experimental period was 4 weeks. Piglets were weighed initially and finally and feed intake registered. The ex vivo studies were performed with epithelium from 40 pigs receiving control or SA-QHM. Epithelium from each pig was placed into eight Ussing chambers, where four concentrations of SA-QHM-extract were added. Epithelial permeability, Na+-dependent glucose transport and serotonin (5-HT) and theophylline- induced secretion were measured.
The results showed that QHM had no influence on piglet’s growth (P = 0.41) or feed intake (P = 0.17). In spite of a large difference in saponin content between SA-QHM and DK-QHM (28.7% and 2.0% w/w, respectively) the source did not affect pig performance. The ex vivo studies revealed no effect (P > 0.05) of adding QHM-extract into the medium. The permeability and glucose induced absorption were highest (P = 0.003 and P = 0.04, respectively) in epithelium from pigs that consumed 100 or 300 mg/kg SA-QHM. The secretory response to 5-HT was not affected (P = 0.59) by dietary treatments, but the theophylline-induced secretion decreased (P = 0.02) with increasing dietary SA-QHM.
The changes in epithelial physiology measured ex vivo did not affect animal performance in vivo in this study.
D Carlson, JA Fernandez, HD Poulsen, B Nielsen and SE Jacobsen. Effects of quinoa hull meal on piglet performance and intestinal epithelial physiology. 2012. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 96:198-205. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2011.01138.x.