Effects of Mycotoxin-Sequestering Agents on Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Growing Pigs Fed Deoxynivalenol-Contaminated Diets.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplemental mycotoxin-sequestering agents on growth performance and nutrient utilization in growing pigs fed deoxynivalenol (DON)-contaminated diets. Twelve barrows with an initial body weight of 35.5 kg (standard deviation = 1.3) were assigned to six dietary treatments in a replicated 6 × 5 incomplete Latin square design. Five experimental diets consisted of an uncontaminated diet (PC), a DON-contaminated diet at 6.89 mg/kg (NC), NC + bentonite 0.5%, NC + yeast cell wall 0.5%, and NC + a mixture product 0.5% which consisted of enzymes, microorganisms, minerals, and plant extracts. Pigs had ad libitum access to the five diets. In the last group, the PC diet was restrictedly provided to pigs at the quantity of feed consumption of the NC group. Average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and gain:feed were not affected by supplemental mycotoxin-sequestering agents except for the mixed product that tended to improve (p = 0.064) gain:feed in pigs fed DON-contaminated diets. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter was not affected by DON contamination or by supplemental mycotoxin-sequestering agents, whereas the ATTD of Ca was decreased (p = 0.032) by supplemental yeast cell wall in pigs fed DON-contaminated diets. The ATTD of P was greater (p = 0.042) in pigs fed the NC diet compared with the pigs fed the restricted amount of the PC diet. In conclusion, bentonite and yeast cell wall did not affect growth performance of pigs fed DON-contaminated diets, but a supplemental mixed product consisting of enzymes, microorganisms, minerals, and plant extracts partially alleviated the negative effects of dietary DON on the gain:feed of pigs. Calcium digestibility was decreased by supplemental yeast cell wall in pigs fed DON-contaminated diets. Based on the present work, the use of a mixed product consisting of enzymes, microorganisms, minerals, and plant extracts is suggested, and the reduction of Ca digestibility by yeast cell wall needs to be considered in diet formulations.

Standardized total tract digestibility of phosphorus in various inorganic phosphates fed to growing pigs.

An experiment was conducted to determine the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of phosphorus (P) in five sources of inorganic phosphate fed to growing pigs, including dicalcium phosphate (DCP), monodicalcium phosphate (MDCP), monocalcium phosphate (MCP), tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and monosodium phosphate (MSP, reagent grade). Six barrows (42.4 ± 1.1 kg) individually housed in metabolism crates were allotted to a 6 × 6 Latin square design with six dietary treatments and six periods. Each experimental period consisted of a 4 day adaptation period and a 5 day collection period. The five experimental diets contained 0.24 to 0.34% of P from each inorganic phosphate as a sole source of P. A P-free diet was also prepared to estimate the basal endogenous loss of P. The STTD of P in MSP (94.9%) was not different from the STTD of P in MCP (93.0%), but was greater (P < 0.05) than that in DCP, MDCP and TCP (87.0, 86.5 and 71.3%, respectively). In conclusion, digestibility of P in reagent-grade MSP was greater than that in feed-grade inorganic phosphates such as DCP, MDCP and TCP, and digestibility of P in DCP and MDCP was greater than that in the TCP.

Dietary acidifiers in weanling pig diets: a review / Acidificantes dietarios para cerdos recién destetados: revisión / Dietas acidificadas em suínos desmamados: uma revisão

The objective of the present review is to provide an overview on the effects of the addition of acidifiers to nursery pig diets. Researchers have proposed that dietary acidifiers decrease pH in the stomach and the lower gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of weanling pigs, and thus, protect the host from pathogenic invasion and proliferation and improve nutrient digestion. These benefits may subsequently result in improved growth performance of weanling pigs. In experiments on nursery pigs, dietary acidifiers decreased stomach pH at least to a small extent, but had little influence on the pH of the lower GIT. Studies found no observable changes in microbial populations upon providing weanling pigs with dietary acidifiers, but they found a slight reduction in lactobacilli or lactic acid-producing bacteria throughout the GIT. Dietary acidifiers improved protein digestion in many cases despite variable results regarding the digestibility of amino acids and improved growth performance. Such positive responses were more apparent during the first or second week of experiments than the later stages. However, growth responses were inconsistent among different sources and varying inclusion rates of acidifiers. Information on the dietary acidifiers’ mode of action is quite limited, and large variations exist in results regarding the effects of dietary acidifiers. Based on the present review, the benefit of dietary acidifiers for nursery pigs is not entirely convincing. Further research is required to clarify the acidifiers’ mode of action and its association with subsequent growth performance in weanling pigs.

El objetivo de esta revisión es ofrecer una visión general sobre los efectos de la adición de acidificantes orgánicos en la dieta de cerdos destetos. Se ha propuesto que los acidificantes dietarios reducen el pH en el estómago y tracto gastrointestinal (TGI) de los cerdos recién destetados, y por lo tanto protegen al huésped de la invasión y proliferación de patógenos, al tiempo que mejoran la digestión de nutrientes. Estos beneficios podrían resultar en una mejora del crecimiento de dichos animales. En experimentos con cerdos destetados, los acidificantes dietarios han mostrado que pueden disminuir el pH del estómago, al menos en pequeña medida, pero han tenido poca influencia en el pH del tracto gastrointestinal posterior. Algunos estudios no encontraron cambios observables en las poblaciones microbianas al ofrecer acidificantes en la dieta a estos animales, pero se reporta una ligera reducción de los lactobacilos o bacterias lácticas productoras de ácido en todo el tracto gastrointestinal. En muchos casos, los acidificantes parecen mejorar la digestión proteica, a pesar de ofrecer resultados variables con respecto a la digestibilidad de los aminoácidos y mejora del crecimiento. Tales respuestas positivas parecen ser más evidentes durante la primera o segunda semana de los experimentos que en etapas posteriores. Sin embargo, la respuesta en crecimiento ha sido inconsistente respecto a diferentes fuentes y niveles de inclusión de acidificantes. La información sobre el modo de acción de los acidificantes dietarios es bastante limitada y existen grandes variaciones en los resultados respecto a sus efectos. De acuerdo con esta revisión, el beneficio potencial de los acidificantes dietarios en cerdos destetados no está del todo justificado. Se requiere investigación adicional para aclarar su modo de acción y su relación con el crecimiento de los cerdos recién destetados.

O objetivo desta revisão é fornecer uma visão geral dos efeitos da adição de acidificantes orgânicos na dieta de leitões desmamados. Tem sido proposto que a dieta acidificante reduz o pH do estômago e do trato gastrointestinal (TGI) de leitões desmamados, e assim proteger o hospedeiro da invasão e proliferação de patogênicos, melhorando a digestão dos nutrientes. Estes podem resultar em um maior crescimento destes animais. Em experimentos com suínos desmamados, a acidificação da dieta têm sido mostrados para diminuir o pH do estômago, pelo menos em pequena medida, mas tiveram pouca influência sobre o pH do trato gastrointestinal posterior. Alguns estudos não encontraram alterações observáveis em populações microbianas ao oferecer acidificantes na dieta, mas tem-se reportado uma ligeira redução de lactobacilos ou bactérias lácticas produtoras de ácido em tudo o trato gastrointestinal. Em muitos casos, os acidificantes parecem melhorar a digestão de proteínas, apesar de oferecer resultados variáveis com respeito à digestibilidade dos aminoácidos e melhora o crescimento. ais respostas positivas parecem ser mais evidentes durante a primeira ou segunda. No entanto, a resposta de crescimento tem sido inconsistente com relação a diferentes fontes e níveis de inclusão de acidificantes. A Informação sobre o modo de ação dos acidificantes na dieta é bastante limitado e existem grandes variações nos resultados sobre seus efeitos. De acordo com essa análise, o benefício potencial de alimentar leitões desmamados com acidificantes não é inteiramente justificado. Mais pesquisas são necessárias para esclarecer seu modo de ação e sua relação com o crescimento de leitões desmamados.