The effects of feed intake and fiber type on apparent ileal and total tract digestibility and hindgut disappearance of energy and nutrients in growing pigs
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that there are interactive effects of feed intake and fiber type on energy and nutrient digestibility in growing pigs. In Exp. 1, twelve barrows with an initial body weight (BW) of 34.0 kg (SD = 2.6) were allotted to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangements consisting of two daily feeding levels (9.0% and 4.5% × BW0.75) and three experimental diets in a replicated 6 × 4 incomplete Latin square design with six treatments and four periods. The experimental diets were a corn-soybean meal-based diet, a diet containing 30% sugar beet pulp (SBP, soluble dietary fiber 19.1% and insoluble dietary fiber 48.5%), and a diet containing 15% corn cobs (soluble dietary fiber 1.1% and insoluble dietary fiber 83.8%). Results indicated that there were no interactions between feed intake and fiber type on energy and nutrient digestibility. The reduction of feed intake increased (P < 0.05) digesta passage time and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy, dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in pigs. The SBP diet had greater (P < 0.05) ATTD of energy, DM, OM, NDF, and ADF compared with the corn cob diet. The ingredient SBP also had greater (P < 0.01) ATTD of energy, DM, OM, crude protein, NDF, and ADF compared with corn cobs. In Exp. 2, ten ileal-cannulated barrows with an initial BW of 38.3 kg (SD = 5.4) were allotted to five treatment groups in a replicated 5 × 4 incomplete Latin square design with five treatments and four periods to obtain eight observations for each treatment. A 1 + 2 × 2 factorial treatment arrangement consisted of a corn-soybean meal-based diet fed at 9.0% × BW0.75 per day and two main effects of feeding levels (9.0% and 4.5% × BW0.75) and fiber type (a 30% SBP diet and a 15% corn cob diet). The ATTD and hindgut disappearance of energy, DM, OM, NDF, and ADF in the SBP diet were greater (P < 0.05) compared with the corn cob diet. When calculated by difference for the digestibility of ingredients, the ATTD and hindgut disappearance of energy, NDF, and ADF in SBP was greater (P < 0.05) than those in corn cobs. Taken together, feed intake reduction resulted in increased fiber digestibility. The SBP rich in soluble dietary fiber had greater energy and fiber digestibility compared with corn cobs composed mostly of insoluble dietary fiber. No interaction existed between feed intake and fiber type in the digestibility of growing pigs.
Source: Journal of Animal Science
DOI: 10.1093/jas/skag198
Authors: Dong Uk Ha, Yujeong Hwang, Su A Lee, Beob Gyun Kim
Institutions: Konkuk University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7166510384