This study aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of β-glucanase on modulation of jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota in relation to nutrient digestibility and intestinal health of pigs fed diets with 30% corn DDGS and xylanase. Forty pigs at 12.4 ± 0.5 kg BW were allotted in a RCBD with initial BW and sex as blocks. Dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet with xylanase (1,500 EPU/kg) and increasing levels of β-glucanase (0, 200, 400, and 600 U/kg) meeting nutrient requirements and fed to pigs for 21 d. Blood samples were collected at d 19. At d 21, all pigs were euthanized to collect intestinal tissues and digesta. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), IL-6, and MDA were measured in plasma and mid-jejunal mucosa. Viscosity was determined using digesta from the distal jejunum. Ileal and rectal digesta were evaluated to determine AID and ATTD of nutrients. Mucosa samples from the mid-jejunum were utilized for microbiota sequencing. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure on SAS 9.4. Overall, increasing dietary β-glucanase tended to increase (Linear; P = 0.077) the ADG of pigs. Increasing dietary β-glucanase affected (quadratic; P < 0.05) the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, reduced (linear; P < 0.05) Helicobacter rappini, whereas increased (Linear, P < 0.05) Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. β-glucanase supplementation (0 vs. others) tended to increase (P = 0.096) the AID of CP in the diet, whereas increasing dietary β-glucanase tended to increase (Linear; P = 0.097) the ATTD of GE in the diet and increased (Linear; P < 0.05) the concentration of IL-6 in the plasma of pigs. In conclusion, increasing β-glucanase up to 600 U/kg feed in a diet containing xylanase (1,500 EPU/kg) modulated mucosa-associated microbiota by increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria and reducing potentially harmful bacteria. Furthermore, increasing β-glucanase up to 600 U/kg feed in a diet containing xylanase (1,500 EPU/kg feed) enhanced the status of intestinal environment and nutrient utilization, as well as reduced systemic inflammation of pigs, collectively resulting in moderate improvement of growth performance. Supplementing β-glucanase at a range of 312 to 410 U/kg with xylanase at 1,500 EPU/kg feed showed the most benefit on jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota and reduced systemic inflammation of pigs.

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of crude protein (CP) levels and non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) enzyme on nursery pig performance. 792 mixed sex pigs (6.2 ± 0.12 kg BW) were randomly allotted across 6 dietary treatments (12 pens/treatment) using a 3x2 factorial. Three base diets, with or without NSPase, were fed in 3 phases (10, 11 and 21 d, respectively). Base diet and Lys per phase were: 1) 17% low CP with of 1.40, 1.35, 1.30% SID Lys (LCP1.4); 2) 24% high CP, 1.40, 1.35, 1.30% SID Ly (HCP1.4); and 3) 17% CP, 1.20, 1.15, 1.10% SID Lys (LCP1.2). Pig weights and feed disappearance were recorded to calculate ADG, ADFI, and G:F within phase and overall. Pen fecal scores and day 21 fecal dry matter (DM) were evaluated. Data were analyzed with pen as the experimental unit and least square means reported by treatment. Overall and within phase, no diet by enzyme interactions were reported for ADG, ADFI and G:F (P < 0.05). Within diet, HCP1.4 had greater overall ADG compared with LCP1.4 and LCP1.2 (0.42, 0.36, 0.35 kg/d respectively, P < 0.0001). Overall ADFI tended to differ between the LCP1.4, HCP 1.4 and the LCP1.2 treatments (0.60, 0.61 and 0.57 kg/d, respectively, P = 0.066). Overall G:F was greater in the HCP1.4 compared with LCP1.4 and LCP1.2 pigs (0.69, 0.61 and 0.62, respectively, P < 0.0001). Fecal scores and 21-d fecal DM did not differ (P > 0.05) in LCP1.4, HCP1.4 and LCP1.2 pigs (32, 28 and 31% DM, respectively) and with or without enzyme (32 and 29% DM, respectively, P = 0.300). Overall, compared with no enzyme, enzyme was not different (P > 0.05) for ADG (0.37 vs 0.39 kg/d), ADFI and G:F. In conclusion, low CP diets did not enhance pig performance or alter fecal consistency.

The efficacy of phytase (Pase) from OptiPhos Plus G (Huvepharma, Peachtree City, GA) was compared to inorganic phosphorus (iP) supplements to assess phosphorus equivalency. In 6 replicate 28-d trials, 288 crossbred F2 (Duroc X LR X LW) pigs (20.0 kg, 6 pigs/pen, 48 pens) were randomly assigned to 1 of 8 diets. Pig sex was balanced within pens. Basal corn-soybean meal diets, formulated to exceed nutrient requirements except for Ca and P, supplied 1.30% lysine from the same amounts of all ingredients. Sand was used to balance variable amounts of monocalcium phosphate and limestone. Diets supplied either 0.061, 0.156, or 0.241% iP from monocalcium phosphate or increments of 250, 500, 750, 1,000 and 1,500 FTU/kg from Pase. All diets were pelleted (160°F, 2.5 tons/hr). The modified pellet durability index averaged 92.8% and 88.7% for all diets in each of 2 mixes. Non-linear growth responses to increments of iP and Pase were detected (P < 0.05). Using nonlinear regression models, maximum gain was calculated at 0.23% iP and 1144 FTU/kg Pase (equivalent to 0.31% available P or 0.38% STTD P). Likewise, from non-linear responses (P < 0.05), maximum response in whole-body bone mineral content (WBBMC) from analysis of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scans were calculated at 1227 FTU/kg Pase. The maximum Pase response for WBBMC was below expectations and raised concerns for potential Ca limitations in diets at higher Pase supplements. Only linear WBBMC responses (P < 0.001) to iP levels were detected. Responses across iP and Pase treatments for femur bone mineral content reflected the same conclusions as responses to WBBMC. As growth responses to iP and Pase diets were non-linear, simple conversions of phytase activity to phosphorus release was not straight-forward. However, non-linear equations can predict economic values of target levels as a function of ingredient costs.

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A 36-d experiment evaluated effects of supplemental OptiPhos Plus phytase (Huvepharma, Peachtree City, GA) on growth, bone mineralization, Ca and P digestibility of nursery-grower pigs. Individually housed crossbred pigs (n = 42; initial body weight [BW], 16.1 ± 0.4 kg) were randomly allotted to 7 dietary treatments based on BW and sex. A positive control (PC) diet was formulated to contain 0.601% Ca and 0.296% standardized total tract digestible (STTD) P, which were marginally lower than NRC (2012) requirement estimates for 25–50 kg pigs. A negative control (NC) diet (0.431% Ca and 0.164% STTD P) was developed by the removal of dicalcium phosphate from the PC diet and replacement with limestone and sand. Diets were: 1) PC, 2) NC, and 3–7) NC + 250, 500, 750, 1,000 and 1,500 FTU phytase/kg diet. On d 36, all pigs were euthanized for femur and metacarpal measures. Compared with NC, pigs fed the PC diet provided greater (P < 0.05) response for ADG (966 vs. 730 g/d), ADFI (1,660 vs. 1,329 g/d); bone measures (37.1 vs. 17.4 g ash/femur and 71.9 vs. 29.3 kg for metacarpal strength), and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of Ca (69.5 vs. 63.5%) and P (62.5 vs. 49.3%). As supplemental phytase increased from 0 to 1,500 FTU/kg of diet, linear and quadratic increases (P < 0.002) occurred in overall ADG and ADFI, femur mineral content, metacarpal breaking strength, and ATTD of Ca and P. Responses statistically similar to PC were achieved at 250 or 500 FTU/kg and peak responses occurred at 750 to 1,500 FTU/kg that were numerically greater than PC for all but metacarpal strength. In conclusion, supplemental OptiPhos Plus improved growth, bone mineralization, Ca and P digestibility of pigs fed Ca and P-deficient diets, demonstrating enhanced Ca and P utilization of corn-soybean meal-based diets by nursery-grower pigs.