Addition of oat hulls to an extruded rice-based diet for weaner pigs ameliorates the incidence of diarrhoea and reduces indices of protein fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-28-2007
Journal Title
British Journal of Nutrition
ISSN
Print: 0007-1145 Electronic: 1475-2662
Keywords
Oat hulls, Post-weaning diarrhoea, Digestibility, Plasma urea, Plasma creatinine, Biogenic amines
Disciplines
Animal Sciences | Meat Science | Other Animal Sciences | Other Nutrition
Abstract
An experiment was conducted to determine whether adding oat hulls to weaner pig diets based on extruded rice or unprocessed wheat influenced post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) and protein fermentation in the large intestine. Ninety-six male piglets (5·16 (sem 0·08) kg) were allocated to (i) extruded rice plus animal proteins (RAP); (ii) RAP with added oat hulls (20 g/kg); (iii) wheat plus animal proteins (WAP); (iv) WAP with added oat hulls (20 g/kg). Blood and faecal samples were collected on days 7 and 14 after weaning at about age 21 d. Pigs fed RAP had more PWD than pigs fed WAP (P < 0·05). Oat hull supplementation to diet RAP decreased the incidence of PWD (P < 0·05). The total-tract digestibility of DM, starch and energy was higher in rice-based diets than in wheat-based diets (P < 0·001); however, oat hulls decreased digestibility of DM and gross energy (P < 0·001). Pigs fed RAP had higher plasma creatinine concentrations (P < 0·01), which were positively correlated to cumulative β-haemolytic Escherichia coli scores after weaning (R2 0·928; P = 0·015). Addition of oat hulls decreased plasma urea concentrations only in pigs fed RAP (interaction; P < 0·05). Pigs fed RAP had lower faecal total biogenic amine concentrations than pigs fed WAP (P < 0·001). Oat hull supplementation tended to decrease total biogenic amine concentrations (P = 0·103). These data indirectly suggest that a mostly insoluble dietary fibre source such as oat hulls can decrease PWD in dietary situations where there may be a misbalance of carbohydrate to protein entering the hindgut.
Recommended Citation
Kim JC, Mullan BP, Hampson DJ, Pluske JR. Addition of oat hulls to an extruded rice-based diet for weaner pigs ameliorates the incidence of diarrhoea and reduces indices of protein fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract. British Journal of Nutrition. 2008;99(6):1217-1225. doi:10.1017/S0007114507868462
