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The effect of cereal-derived beta-glucans and exogenous enzyme supplementation on intestinal microflora, nutrient digestibility, mineral metabolism and volatile fatty acid concentrations in finisher pigs

Barley-based diets have more beneficial effects on gut health, oat-based diets have higher potential to enhance beneficial microbial populations and endogenous β-glucans show better prebiotic properties.
21 April 2011
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Exogenous enzyme supplementation (ES) in pig diets can effectively degrade non-starch polysaccharides, leading to a subsequent improvement in digestibility and nutrient utilization. However, the beneficial effects of fermentable fiber on metabolic and microbial markers of improved gut function may be diminished due to ES of the diet. The objectives of the experiments were to evaluate the effects of offering diets containing different β-glucan sources (barley vs. oats) with or without ES and the use of non-purified endogenous β-glucans vs. supplementation of laboratory purified exogenous β-glucans, with or without ES on diet digestibility, intestinal microflora, mineral metabolism, colonic indole and skatole concentrations and volatile fatty acids (VFA) production in pigs. Two experiments were conducted to investigate these effects.

In experiment 1, 28 boars (59±2 kg; 119±2 days of age) were used in a 2×2 factorial arrangement and were assigned to one of 4 dietary treatments (n = 7): T1) barley-based diet; T2) barley-based diet plus ES; T3) oat-based diet and T4) oat-based diet plus ES. In experiment 2, 28 boars (60±1.9 kg; 119±2 days of age) were assigned to one of 4 dietary treatments (n = 7): T1) oat-based diet containing endogenous (non-purified) β-glucans; T2) oat-based diet containing endogenous β-glucans plus ES; T3) wheat-based diet and exogenous (laboratory purified) β-glucans and T4) wheat-based diet and exogenous β-glucans plus ES.

In experiment 1, pigs offered barley-based diets had higher (P<0.001) coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of organic matter (OM) and gross energy (GE) and lower CTTAD (P<0.05) of nitrogen compared to oat-based diets. Pigs offered barley-based diets had higher (P<0.001) molar proportions of butyric and propionic acids and higher total VFA concentrations in the caecum (P<0.01) and colon (P<0.001) than pigs fed oat-based diets. Pigs offered oat-based diets had higher populations of Bifidobacteria in the ileum (P<0.05) and colon (P<0.01), and Lactobacilli in the colon (P<0.05) compared with pigs fed barley-based diets. In experiment 2, pigs offered diets containing endogenous β-glucans without ES had higher populations of Bifidobacteria (P<0.01) compared to pigs offered diets supplemented with exogenous β-glucans without ES. Diets containing endogenous β-glucans without ES had a lower (P<0.001) CTTAD of OM and GE compared to diets supplemented with exogenous β-glucans without ES.

In conclusion, barley-based diets have more beneficial effects on parameters related to gut health than oat-based diets; however oat-based diets exhibit higher potential to enhance beneficial microbial populations. Endogenous β-glucans show better prebiotic properties than exogenous β-glucans.

P Reilly, T Sweeney, C O’Shea, KM Pierce, S Figat, AG Smith, DA Gahan and JV O’Doherty, 2010. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 158:165–176.

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