The objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing a wheat-based diet with xylanase and phospholipase either alone or in combination on the ileal and fecal digestibilities of nutrients and energy in early-weaned pigs. In addition, the concentrations of ammonia, lactate, and VFA were measured in ileal digesta and feces. The experiment was carried out with 16 barrows weaned at the age of 11 d with an average initial BW of 4.1 kg. On d 4 and 5 postweaning, the piglets were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum. The experiment was designed as a balanced incomplete block design with three periods. The piglets received the basal diet with or without supplementation of either xylanase or phospholipase or a combination of these. There was a positive (P = 0.005 to 0.018) effect on the digestibility values of GE, OM, CP, crude fiber (CF), and NDF with xylanase supplementation. Apart from lysine, threonine, cysteine, glycine, and proline, the digestibility values of all AA were improved (P = 0.001 to 0.024). Phospholipase supplementation had a positive effect on CP (P = 0.047) and CF (P = 0.002) digestibilities, but no effect on ether extract (EE) digestibility. Supplementation of both enzymes showed the largest response in nutrient digestibilities, except that EE digestibility was not affected. No differences were found in D-/L- lactate, and ammonia concentrations among treatments. Acetate and propionate concentrations tended to increase when xylanase was supplemented and were highest for the combination of both enzymes. Despite the positive effects on ileal nutrient and energy digestibilities, there was no effect of xylanase or the combined enzyme supplementation on the fecal digestibilities of OM, CP, EE, CF, NDF, ADF, or GE, and on fecal concentrations of VFA. Phospholipase alone slightly decreased the total-tract nutrient and energy digestibilities (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the combination of both enzymes generally led to the highest increases in ileal digestibilities, which were of small numerical magnitude (approximately 2%). However, on a relative basis, this increase of 2% represents approximately 13% of the remaining diet that was available for digestion based on the fact that approximately 15% of the diet was not digested in the control pigs. Thus, the potential benefits in the nutrition of weanling pigs from combinations of enzymes should be validated under practical conditions.

The effects of supplementing a wheat-based diet for weaner pigs with exogenous xylanase and phospholipase on ileal and faecal nutrient digestibilities and on the level of microbial metabolites in ileal digesta were examined. Fourteen piglets, weaned at 11 days, were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum. The pigs were offered a control diet or diets supplemented with xylanase and phospholipase individually or in combination, in a two period crossover design. The combination of xylanase and phospholipase tended to increase the ileal recovery of the amino sugar galactosamine, whereas the concentration expressed in mg/kg dry matter intake of glucosamine was slightly decreased (p < 0.10). There was neither an effect of enzyme supplementation on ileal and faecal digestibility of the other nutrients and energy, nor was there an effect on pH and on the level of microbial metabolites in ileal digesta. However, an increase in ileal and faecal nutrient and energy digestibility with increasing age was observed. The ileal and faecal digestibility coefficients (except for ether extract) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in experimental period I than in period II. These higher values may be attributed to a lower feed intake during period I. Since a lower level of feed intake is generally associated with a slower rate of passage and a longer retention time of digesta, a positive impact on digestion and absorption of nutrients can be assumed, which, on the other hand, limits the potential of additional enzyme effects.

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A digestibility study was conducted to assess the effect of using the guanidination procedure to convert lysine to homoarginine in dietary sources of protein on standardised ileal digestibilities of nitrogen and amino acids in rapeseed meal, soybean meal or peas fed to growing pigs. Six barrows (German Landrace × Pietrain) with an initial bodyweight of 19 ± 1.8 kg, fitted with ileal T-cannulas, were fed one of three cornstarch-based diets that contained 180 g crude protein/kg (as-fed basis) from rapeseed meal, soybean meal or peas for an experimental period of 10 days according to a double 3 by 3 Latin square design. On Day 9 of each experimental period, the pigs were fed diets containing the guanidinated protein sources, which corresponded to their respective unguanidinated diets. In the guanidinated assay diets, 50% of the dietary source of protein was replaced, on an equal weight basis, with the guanidinated assay feed ingredient. Using the guanidination procedure increased the content of nitrogen in rapeseed meal, soybean meal, and peas by 17, 34, and 8 g/kg DM, respectively. With the exception of lysine in rapeseed meal, using the guanidination procedure increased the standardised ileal digestibilities of most amino acids in rapeseed meal, soybean meal and peas (P < 0.05). Lower standardised ileal digestibililty of lysine in guanidinated compared with unguanidinated rapeseed meal indicates that guanidination was not as uniform compared with the other sources of dietary protein. In conclusion, increases in standardised ileal digestibilities of amino acids after using the guanidination procedure in the aforementioned feed ingredients may be due to solubilisation of protein and degradation of antinutritional factors such as fibre, trypsin inhibitors and tannins.