Interrelationship between gut morphology and faeces consistency in newly weaned piglets

A total of 104 weanling piglets was used to study the interrelationships between faeces consistency and mucosal integrity, as assessed by specific aminopeptidase and isomaltase-sucrase activity, villus height and crypt depth. Piglets were weaned at 26 (s.d. 1.4) days of age, weighing 84 (s.d. 0.70) kg. On the day of weaning (day 0), dissection was performed on one group of eight piglets. The remaining piglets were given restricted amounts of diets containing different protein sources. However, during the first 7 days post weaning 72% of the piglets ate on average less than 0.9 of the amount offered and thus actually had ad libitum access to food. On days 3 or 7 post weaning pigs were weighed and euthanased. Diet composition did not effect small intestine integrity and the data were pooled for further analysis. The weight of the stomach, large intestine and pancreas increased with time post weaning (P <0.001). Small intestine weight decreased from day 0 to 3 and was increased again on day 7, exceeding the pre-weaning value (P <0.001). Isomaltase-sucrase and aminopeptidase activities were decreased on days 3 and 7 when compared with day 0. Villus height was decreased after weaning, followed by an increase on day 7 post weaning at the proximal small intestine, but by a further decrease at the mid small intestine (P <0.001). Crypt depth was increased after weaning (P <0.001). Faeces consistency was scored twice a day on a scale from 0 to 3 with increasing liquid nature. The average percentage of days during which piglets had more-liquid faeces was 26%. During the 1st week post weaning, 73% of the piglets showed a faeces score of 2 during at least 1 day. Villus height was positively correlated with food intake level, brush-border enzyme activity and dry matter content of the chyme. Villus height was negatively correlated with more-liquid faeces. Crypt depth was positively associated with the weight of various parts of the gastro-intestinal tract. It is concluded that this study supports the concept that food intake by weaned piglets determines villus height in the small intestine and brush-border enzyme production which in turn determine the risk of diarrhoea developmen

Villus height and gut development in weaned piglets receiving diets containing either glucose, lactose or starch

The present study was designed to evaluate the differential effects of dietary glucose, lactose and starch on small-intestinal morphology, organ weights, pH of chyme and haptoglobin levels in blood plasma of weaned piglets. It was hypothesised that lactose consumption would ameliorate the weaning-induced decrease in gut integrity. A total of forty-two barrows were used. Piglets were weaned at 27 (sd 0·8) d of age and weighed 8·0 (sd 0·51) kg. On the day before weaning (day -1) all pigs were blocked according to body weight and randomly assigned to seven groups (n 6 per group). The groups differed in diet and day of dissection. On the day of weaning, dissection was performed on one group of six piglets. The remaining groups were fed one of three experimental diets in which glucose, lactose or starch had been iso-energetically exchanged, supplying 24 % dietary energy. The piglets received a liquid diet (air-dry meal:water of 1:2, w/w). The piglets were given access to a maximum of dietary energy in order to prevent confounding between feed intake and villus architecture. The piglets were dissected and sampled on days 0, 3, or 10 post-weaning. The results show that the carbohydrate source did not affect growth performance, organ weights, villus architecture, pH of chyme and plasma haptoglobin level. The weaning transition resulted in decreased villus height and increased haptoglobin levels. In the contents of the caecum and large intestine, the pH decreased after weaning. It is concluded that at least under conditions of similar feed intake and low infectious pressure, dietary lactose does not ameliorate the weaning-induced compromise of small-intestinal integrity when compared with either glucose or starch

Dietary protein hydrolysates vs. the intact proteins do not enhance mucosal integrity and growth performance in weaned piglets

Two separate experiments, but using the same diets, were designed to study whether the addition to the diet of protein hydrolysates or crystalline glutamine (gln) affect small intestinal integrity (experiment 1) and growth performance (experiment 2). It was hypothesized that dietary supplementation of hydrolysed proteins would increase the availability of amino acids for the gut wall and therefore result in an improved small intestinal integrity and growth performance of piglets after weaning. The five diets differed in their protein composition: soybean meal and wheat gluten (SBM+WG), SBM and hydrolysed wheat gluten (SBM +HWG), hydrolysed soybean meal and WG (HSBM+WG), SBM and potato protein (SBM+PP), 2% of gln added to SBM and PP (SBM+PP+gln). In experiment 1, 88 piglets of 8.4 kg (S.D.: 0.82) were weaned at 26 days of age (day 0). Piglets were dissected and sampled on days 0, 3, or 7 postweaning. Results showed that the protein hydrolysates did not increase villus height, did not reduce crypt depth and did not raise brush-border aminopeptidase and isomaltase-sucrase activity when compared to the diets containing the unhydrolysed proteins. In experiment 2, 165 piglets of 8.5 kg (S.D.: 1.33) were weaned at 26 days of age. Feed intake and weight gain were not enhanced by the protein hydrolysates. The addition to the diet of crystalline gln resulted in improved average daily gain and feed efficiency by 22 and 17%, respectively (

Effect of dietary protein source on feed intake and small intestinal morphology in newly weaned piglets

An experiment was designed to study the effect of dietary protein source on feed intake and on small intestinal morphology in newly weaned piglets. In total, 108 piglets were used, without access to creep feed during the suckling period. Piglets were weaned at 27 days of age. They were fed ad libitum one of two iso-nitrogenous experimental diets, which differed in their protein composition and contained either skim milk powder (SMP) or hydrolysed feather meal (FM), the latter component having low ileal protein digestibility. Diets contained equal amounts of indispensable amino acids. On day 4 postweaning, 18 piglets with a similar high feed intake were selected within each dietary treatment and sampled for small intestinal morphology on days 4, 7, or 14 postweaning. The dietary protein source did not affect feed intake during the first three days after weaning. From days 0 (day of weaning) to 2, the mean feed intake increased from 28.9 (S.D. 45.2) to 202.1 (S.D. 129.9) g day-1 piglet-1. In the second week, the feed intake of the selected piglets receiving the SMP diet was higher (

Apparent digestibility of diets with different concentrations of lysine and energy in piglets with different body weights and post-weaning age Digestibilidade aparente de dietas com diferentes concentrações de lisina e energia, em leitões de diferentes pesos corporais e idade pós-desmame

The effects of body weight or age and dietary digestible lysine and metabolizable energy on apparent digestibility of energy and dry matter were evaluated in piglets after weaning. The animals were weaned at 21 days of age and distributed in two groups: 8.68 ± 0.76 kg at 28 days of age (weaned 7 days earlier); and 12.73 ± 0.99 kg at 35 days of age (weaned 14 days earlier). The pigs were allotted in digestibility cages in a completely randomized block design with the following factorial arrangements: 2 × 4 composed of two weight categories and four levels of digestible lysine (1.222; 1.305; 1.390 and 1.497%); and 2 × 3 composed of two weight categories and three levels of metabolizable energy (3,510; 3,700 and 3,830 kcal/kg rations). Digestible lysine was evaluated in six replications and metabolizable energy in eight replications and each animal constituted an experimental unit. Piglets with higher body weight and age were more efficient in nitrogen retention and energetic balance, compared to lighter and younger piglets, particularly those given lower concentration of lysine in the diet. The energy increase favored nitrogen retention by the heavier and older piglets. However, coefficients of dry matter and energy apparent digestibility did not differ among weight categories. Older and heavier piglets were more efficient in nitrogen retention, although this efficacy depended on concentration of the energy in the diet. This better use of protein and energy suggest differences on nutritional requirements.<br>Os efeitos do peso corporal ou idade e da lisina digestível e energia metabolizável dietéticas sobre a digestibilidade aparente da energia e matéria seca, foram avaliados em leitões após o desmame. Os animais foram desmamados aos 21 dias de idade e distribuídos em dois grupos: 8,68 ± 0,76 kg com 28 dias de idade (desmamados há sete dias); e 12,73 ± 0,99 kg com 35 dias de idade (desmamados há 14 dias). Foram alocados em gaiolas de digestibilidade, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso nos esquemas fatoriais: 2 × 4 composto de duas categorias de peso e quatro níveis de lisina digestível (1,222; 1,305; 1,390; e 1,497%); e 2 × 3 composto por duas categorias de peso e três níveis de energia metabolizável (3.510, 3.700 e 3.830 kcal/kg de ração). A lisina digestível foi avaliada em seis repetições e a energia metabolizável em oito repetições, considerando cada animal uma unidade experimental. Os leitões que apresentavam maior peso corporal e idade foram mais eficientes na retenção do nitrogênio e no balanço energético, comparados aos mais leves e mais novos, sobretudo os que receberam menor concentração de lisina na dieta. O aumento da energia favoreceu a retenção do nitrogênio pelos leitões mais pesados e mais velhos. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente de matéria seca e energia, no entanto, não diferiram entre as categorias de peso. Os leitões mais velhos e com maior peso corporal são mais eficientes na retenção do nitrogênio, contudo essa eficácia dependeu da concentração de energia da dieta. Esse melhor aproveitamento da proteína e energia sugere diferenças nas exigências nutricionais

Lactose levels in diets for piglets weaned at 21 days of age Níveis de lactose em rações para leitões desmamados aos 21 dias de idade

With the objective of evaluating levels of lactose in diets for piglets weaned at 21 days of age, it was carried out an experiment with 72 animals, with average weight of 6.12 kg, distributed in a completely randomized block design with four diets (0, 4, 8, and 12% lactose), six replicates, and 3 animals per experimental unit. Animals were fed the experimental diets from 21 to 35 days of age and they were fed a lactose-free basal diet from 36 to 49 days of age. The lactose levels did not affect daily weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion of piglets from 21 to 35 days of age. The use of lactose levels in the diets also did not affect performance of the piglets assessed from 21 to 49 days old. Diets also did not influence villous height, crypt depth and villous:crypt ratio. Lactose resulted in greater diversity and balance of the intestinal microbial community. The Lactobalillus spp. richness increases with the addition of lactose in diet up to the level of 8% in relation to the total number of intestinal microorganisms, which may a possible improvement of intestinal health.<br>Com o objetivo de avaliar níveis de lactose em rações para leitões desmamados aos 21 dias de idade, foi realizado um experimento com 72 animais com peso inicial médio de 6,10 kg, distribuídos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso com quatro rações (0, 4, 8 e 12% de lactose), seis repetições e três animais por unidade experimental. Os animais foram alimentados com as rações experimentais no período de 21 a 35 dias de idade e, no período de 36 a 49 dias, receberam uma ração basal isenta de lactose. Os níveis de lactose não afetaram o ganho diário de peso, o consumo diário de ração e a conversão alimentar dos leitões de 21 a 35 dias. O uso de lactose nas rações também não afetou o desempenho dos leitões avaliados dos 21 aos 49 dias de idade. As rações também não influenciaram a altura das vilosidades, a profundidade de criptas e a relação vilosidade:cripta. A lactose proporcionou maior diversidade e equilíbrio da comunidade microbiana intestinal. A riqueza microbiana de Lactobacillus spp. aumenta com a adição de lactose na ração até o nível de 8% em relação ao número total de microrganismos intestinais, o que indica possível melhora da saúde intestinal