The role of dietary fibre in pig production, with a particular emphasis on reproduction

Abstract Fibres from a variety of sources are a common constituent of pig feeds. They provide a means to utilise locally-produced plant materials which are often a by-product of the food or drink industry. The value of a high fibre diet in terms of producing satiety has long been recognised. However the addition of fibre can reduce feed intake, which is clearly detrimental during stages of the production cycle when nutrient needs are high, for example in growing piglets and during lactation. More recently, fibre has been found to promote novel benefits to pig production systems, particularly given the reduction in antimicrobial use world-wide, concern for the welfare of animals fed a restricted diet and the need to ensure that such systems are more environmentally friendly. For example, inclusion of dietary fibre can alter the gut microbiota in ways that could reduce the need for antibiotics, while controlled addition of certain fibre types may reduce nitrogen losses into the environment and so reduce the environmental cost of pig production. Of particular potential value is the opportunity to use crude fibre concentrates as ‘functional’ feed additives to improve young pig growth and welfare. Perhaps the greatest opportunity for the use of high fibre diets is to improve the reproductive efficiency of pigs. Increased dietary fibre before mating improves oocyte maturation, prenatal survival and litter size; providing a consumer-acceptable means of increasing the amount of saleable meat produced per sow. The mechanisms responsible for these beneficial effects remain to be elucidated. However, changes in plasma and follicular fluid concentrations of key hormones and metabolites, as well as effects of the hypothalamic satiety centre on gonadotrophin secretion and epigenetic effects are strong candidates

Wartosc pokarmowa nasion roslin straczkowych w zywieniu zwierzat

Omówiono najważniejsze czynniki wpływające na wartość pokarmową nasion roślin strączkowych jak skład aminokwasowy, zawartość i trawienie węglowodanów oraz związki antyodżywcze. W ostatnich latach powierzchnia uprawy roślin strączkowych pastewnych na nasiona w Polsce znacznie się obniżyła. Rośliny strączkowe są cennym źródłem białka uzupełniającego białko zbóż, jednak jego wartość dla zwierząt nieprzeżuwających jest zróżnicowana. Strawność jelitowa aminokwasów łubinów oraz białokwitnących odmian bobiku i grochu jest mniejsza, niż odmian kolorowo kwitnących. Świnie lepiej niż drób wykorzystują energię nasion strączkowych ze względu na różnice w stopniu i miejscu trawienia węglowodanów. Uważa się, że zawartość alkaloidów w nasionach uprawianych w Polsce odmian łubinu powinna zostać obniżona poprzez metody hodowlane.The main factors affecting feeding value of legume seeds such as amino-acid composition, carbohydrate content and digestion, and antinutritional substances, are discussed. During last years the area of legume crops cultivated in Poland decreased considerably. The legume seeds are a valuable source of protein complementary to cereal protein; however, their protein value for monogastric animals is variable. Ileal digestibility of amino-acids is greater in lupins and in white-flowered than in colour-flowered faba bean and pea. Due to differences in degree and site of carbohydrate digestion the pigs convert energy of legumes more efficiently than poultry. It is concluded that the content of alkaloids in seeds of Polish lupin cultivars should be reduced by proper selection

Comparative utilization of horse-bean and soybean oil-meal by lactating sows. I. — ZOOTECHNIC RESULTS AND BALANCE STUDIES

International audienc