Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-qxdb6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T01:40:51.662Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of lactose and inulin on intestinal morphology, selected microbial populations and volatile fatty acid concentrations in the gastro-intestinal tract of the weanling pig

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

K. M. Pierce ,
T. Sweeney ,
P. O. Brophy ,
J. J. Callan ,
E. Fitzpatrick ,
P. McCarthy  and
J. V. O'Doherty
K. M. Pierce
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
T. Sweeney
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
P. O. Brophy
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
J. J. Callan
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
E. Fitzpatrick
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
P. McCarthy
Affiliation:
Volac Feed Ltd, Volac House, Church Street, Killeshandra, Co. Cavan, Ireland
J. V. O'Doherty*
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
*
†Corresponding author. E-mail: john.vodoherty@ucd.ie
Get access

Abstract

Twenty piglets (21 days, 7·8 kg live weight (LW)) were used in a 2×2 factorial to investigate interactions between lactose and inulin on intestinal morphology, microbiology and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production of the weanling pig. The piglets were offered the following diets for 6 days and then sacrificed: (T1) 150 g/kg lactose, (T2) 150 g/kg lactose +15 g/kg inulin, ( T3) 330 g/kg lactose, and ( T4) 330 g/kg lactose +15 g/kg inulin. Tissue samples were taken from the duodenum, jejunum and ileum for morphological measurements. Digesta samples were taken from the ileum, caecum and colon. There was an interaction ( P<0·05) between lactose and inulin in villous height in the jejunum. The inclusion of inulin at 150 g/kg lactose increased villous height compared with 150 g/kg lactose without inulin. However, inulin had no effect on villous height at 330 g/kg lactose inclusion. There was a linear relationship between food intake and villous height in the duodenum ( P<0·001, R2 =0·45) and the jejunum ( P< 0·01, R2 =0·25). The inclusion of 330 g/kg lactose increased ( P<0·05) total VFA compared with 150 g/kg lactose in the caecum and the population of lactobacilli in the caecum and colon ( P<0·1). There was an interaction ( P<0·05) between lactose and inulin for total VFA concentration in the colon. The pigs receiving 330 g/kg lactose had a higher total VFA concentration compared with pigs on 150 g/kg lactose. However, there was no difference between 150 g/kg and 330 g/kg lactose when the diets were supplemented with inulin. In conclusion, the inclusion of high dietary concentrations of lactose resulted in increased lactobacilli and short-chain fatty acid concentrations. The inclusion of inulin with low dietary concentrations of lactose resulted in improved intestinal health through a reduction of intestinal pH and increases in villous height.

Keywords

intestinal morphologyinulinlactosepigs
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 82 , Issue 3 , June 2006 , pp. 311 - 318
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Association of Official Analytical Chemists. 1995. Official methods of analysis, 16th edition. AOAC, Washington DC.Google Scholar
Apgar, G. A., Kornegay, E. T., Lindemann, M. and Wood, C. M. 1993. The effect of feeding various levels of Bifidobacterium globosum A on the performance, gastrointestinal measurements, and immunity of weanling pigs and on the performance and carcass measurements of growing-finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science 71: 2173–2179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Aumaitre, A., Peiniau, J. and Madec, F. 1995. Digestive adaptation after weaning and nutritional consequences in the piglet. Pig News and Information 16: 73N–79N.Google Scholar
Bach Knudsen, K. E., Jensen, B. B., Anderson, J. O. and Hansen, I. 1991. Gastrointestinal implications in pigs of wheat of oat fractions. 2. Microbial activity in the gastrointestinal tract. British Journal of Nutrition 65: 233–248.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Best, P. 2000. Starter pig feeds: oligosaccharides. Do these feed sugars assist the right bacteria? Feed International, February, pp. 24–28.Google Scholar
Birch, G. G. and Mwangelwa, O. M. 1974. Colorimetric determinations of sugars in sweetened condensed milk products. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 25: 1355–1362.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buraczewski, S., Porter, J. W. G., Rolls, B. A. and Zebrowska, T. 1971. The course of digestion of different food proteins in the rat. 2. The effect of feeding carbohydrate with proteins. British Journal of Nutrition 25: 299–306.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Close, W. H. 1994. Feeding new genotypes: establishing amino acid/energy requirements. In Principles of pig science (ed. Cole, D. J. A., Wiseman, J., Varley, M. A.), pp. 123–140. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham.Google Scholar
Cummings, J. H. and MacFarlane, G. T. 1991. The control and consequences of bacterial fermentation in the human colon. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 70: 443–459.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dierick, N. A., Vervaeke, I. J., Decuypere, J. and Henderickx, H. K. 1986. Influence of the gut flora and some growth promoting feed additives on nitrogen metabolism in pigs. Studies in vitro. Livestock Production Science 14: 161–176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drew, M. D., Van Kessel, A. G., Estrada, A. E., Ekpe, E. D. and Zijlstra, R. T. 2002. Effect of dietary cereal on intestinal bacterial populations in weaned pigs. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 82: 607–609.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dunsford, B. R., Knabe, D. A. and Haensly, W. E. 1989. Effect of dietary soybean meal on the microscopic anatomy of the small intestine in the early weaned pig. Journal of Animal Science 67: 1855–1863.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Flickinger, E. A., Van Loo, J. and Fahey, G. C. 2003. Nutritional responses to the presence of inulin and oligofructose in the diets of domesticated animals: a review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 43: 19–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Friend, D. W., Cunningham, H. M. and Nicholson, J. W. G. 1962. The production of organic acids in the pig. 1. The effect of diet on the proportions of volatile fatty acids in pig feces. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 42: 55–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibson, G. R. and Roberfroid, M. R. 1995. Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: introducing the concept of prebiotics. Journal of Nutrition 125: 1401–1412.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hampson, D. J. 1986. Attempts to modify changes in the piglet small intestine after weaning. Research in Veterinary Science 40: 313–317.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Houdijk, J. G. M., Bosch, M. W., Verstegen, M. W. A. and Berenpas, H. J. 1998. Effects of dietary oligosaccharides on the growth performance and faecal characteristics of young growing pigs. Animal Feed Science and Technology 71: 35–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kim, K. I., Jewell, D. E., Benevenga, N. J. and Grummer, R. H. 1978. The fraction of dietary lactose available for fermentation in the caecum and colon of pigs. Journal of Animal Science 46: 1658–1665.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Li, D. F., Nelssen, J. L., Reddy, P. G., Blecha, F., Hancock, J. D., Allee, G. L., Goodband, R. D. and Klemm, R. D. 1990. Transient hypersensitivity to soybean meal in the early-weaned pig. Journal of Animal Science 68: 1790–1799.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacFarlane, S. and MacFarlane, G. T. 2003. Regulation of short-chain fatty acid production. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 62: 67–72.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mahan, D. C. 1992. Efficacy of dried whey and its lactalbumin and lactose components at two dietary lysine levels on postweaning pig performance and nitrogen balance. Journal of Animal Science 70: 2182–2187.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mahan, D. C. and Newton, E. A. 1993. Evaluation of feed grains with dried skim milk and added carbohydrates sources on weanling pig performance. Journal of Animal Science 71: 3376–3382.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miller, B. G., James, P. S., Smith, M. W. and Bourne, F. J. 1986. Effect of weaning on the capacity of the pig intestinal villi to digest and absorb nutrients. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 107: 579–589.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 1991. The feedingstuffs regulations 1991. Statutory instrument no. 2840, 9.76. Her Majesty's Stationary Office, London.Google Scholar
Mul, A. J. and Perry, F. G. 1994. The role of fructo-oligosaccharides in nutrition. In Recent advances in animal nutrition (ed. Garnsworthy, P. C. and Cole, D. J. A.), pp. 57–79. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham.Google Scholar
Nessmith, W. B. Jr, Nelssen, J. L., Tokach, M. D., Goodband, R. D., Bergstrom, J. R., Dritz, S. S. and Richert, B. T. 1997. Evaluation of the interrelationships among lactose and protein sources in diets for segregated early-weaned pigs. Journal of Animal Science 75: 3214–3221.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
O'Doherty, J. V., Nolan, C. S., Callan, J. J. and McCarthy, P. 2004. Interaction between lactofeed level and soya bean meal on growth performance of weanling pigs. Animal Science 78: 419–428.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Doherty, J. V., Nolan, C. S. and McCarthy, P. 2005. Interaction between lactofeed level and soybean meal on growth performance of weanling pigs. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 84: 371–380.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pierce, K. M., Callan, J. J., McCarthy, P. and O'Doherty, J. V. 2005. Performance of weanling pigs offered low or high lactose diets supplemented with avilamycin or inulin. Animal Science 80: 313–318.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pierce, K. M., Sweeney, T., Callan, J. J., Byrne, C., McCarthy, P. and O'Doherty, J. V. 2006. The effect of lactose inclusion in finishing diets on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen excretion, volatile fatty acids concentrations and ammonia emission from boars. Animal Feed Science and Technology 125: 45–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pluske, J. R., Hampson, D. J. and Williams, I. H. 1997. Factors influencing the structure and function of the small intestine in the weaned pig: a review. Livestock Production Science 51: 215–236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pluske, J. R., Williams, I. H. and Aherne, F. X. 1996. Maintenance of villous height and crypt depth in piglets by providing continuous nutrition after weaning. Animal Science 62: 131–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pollmann, D. S., Danielson, D. M. and Peo, E. R. Jr 1980. Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on starter pigs fed a diet supplemented with lactose. Journal of Animal Science 51: 638–644.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Porter, M. G. and Murray, R. S. 2001. The volatility of components of grass silage on oven drying and the inter-relationship between dry-matter content estimated by different analytical methods. Grass and Forage Science 56: 405–411.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberfroid, M. B., Van Loo, J. A. E. and Gibson, G. R. 1998. The bifidogenic nature of chicory inulin and its hydrolysis products. Journal of Nutrition 128: 11–19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roediger, W. E. W. 1994. Famine, fiber, fatty acids, and failed colonic absorption: does fiber fermentation ameliorate diarrhoea? Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 18: 4–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roediger, W. E. W. 1982. Utilization of nutrients by isolated epithelial cells of the rat colon. Gastroenterology 83: 424–429.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Russell, J. B., Sniffen, C. J. and Van Soest, P. J. 1983. Effect of carbohydrate limitation on degradation and utilization of casein by mixed rumen bacteria. Journal of Dairy Science 66: 763–775.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sewell, R. and West, J. P. 1965. Some effects of lactose on protein utilization in the baby pig. Journal of Animal Science 24: 239–241.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, J. G. and German, J. B. 1995. Molecular and genetic effects of dietary derived butyric acid. Food Technology 49: 87–90.Google Scholar
Spreeuwenberg, M. A. M and Beynen, A. C. 2003. Diet mediated modulation of small intestinal integrity in weaned piglets. In Weaning piglets. Concepts and consequences (ed. Pluske, J. R., Le Dividich, J. and Verstegen, M. W. A.), pp. 145–198. Wageningen Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Soergel, K. H. 1994. Colonic fermentation: metabolic and clinical implications. Clinical Investigations 72: 742–748.Google ScholarPubMed
Statistical Analysis Systems Institute. 1985. Statistical analysis systems. SAS Institute Inc., NC.Google Scholar
Stewart, C. A., Hillman, K., Maxwell, F., Kelly, D. and King, T. P. 1993. In Recent advances in animal nutrition (ed. Garnsworthy, P. C. and Cole, D. J. A.), pp. 197–220. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham.Google Scholar
Sutton, A. L., Kephart, K. B., Verstegen, M. W. A., Canh, T. T. and Hobbs, P. J. 1999. Potential for reduction of odorous compounds in swine manure through diet modification. Journal of Animal Science 77: 430–439.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Swanson, K. S., Grieshop, C. M., Flickinger, E. A., Bauer, L. L., Healy, H. P., Dawson, K. A., Merchen, N. R. and Fahey, G. C. Jr 2002. Supplemental fructooligosaccharides and mannanoligosaccharides influence immune function, ileal and total tract nutrient digestibilities, microbial populations and concentrations of protein catabolites in the large bowel of dogs. Journal of Nutrition 132: 980–989.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tokach, M. D., Nelssen, J. L. and Allee, G. L. 1989. Effect of protein and (or) carbohydrate fractions of dried whey on performance and nutrient digestibility of early weaned pigs. Journal of Animal Science 67: 1307–1312.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Soest, P. J., Robertson, J. B. and Lewis, B. A. 1991. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber and non-starch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science 74: 3583–3597.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Visek, W. J. 1978. Diet and cell growth modulation by ammonia. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 31: S216–S220.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Whittemore, C. T. 1993. The science and practice of pig production. Longman, Harlow.Google Scholar
Williams, B. A., Verstegen, M. A. and Tamminga, S. 2001. Fermentation in the large intestine of single-stomached animals and its relationship to animal health. Nutrition Research Reviews 14: 207–227.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed