Villus height and gut development in weaned piglets receiving diets containing either glucose, lactose or starch

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the differential effects of dietary glucose, lactose and starch on small-intestinal morphology, organ weights, pH of chyme and haptoglobin levels in blood plasma of weaned piglets. It was hypothesised that lactose consumption would ameliorate the weaning-induced decrease in gut integrity. A total of forty-two barrows were used. Piglets were weaned at 27 (SD 0·8) d of age and weighed 8·0 (SD 0·51) kg. On the day before weaning (day 2 1) all pigs were blocked according to body weight and randomly assigned to seven groups (n 6 per group). The groups differed in diet and day of dissection. On the day of weaning, dissection was performed on one group of six piglets. The remaining groups were fed one of three experimental diets in which glucose, lactose or starch had been iso-energetically exchanged, supplying 24 % dietary energy. The piglets received a liquid diet (air-dry meal:water of 1:2, w/w). The piglets were given access to a maximum of dietary energy in order to prevent confounding between feed intake and villus architecture. The piglets were dissected and sampled on days 0, 3, or 10 post-weaning. The results show that the carbohydrate source did not affect growth performance, organ weights, villus architecture, pH of chyme and plasma haptoglobin level. The weaning transition resulted in decreased villus height and increased haptoglobin levels. In the contents of the caecum and large intestine, the pH decreased after weaning. It is concluded that at least under conditions of similar feed intake and low infectious pressure, dietary lactose does not ameliorate the weaning-induced compromise of small-intestinal integrity when compared with either glucose or starch.

Effect of dietary glutamine, glucose and/or sodium butyrate on piglet growth, intestinal environment, subsequent fattener performance, and meat quality

“…This mechanism was found earlier for glutamine (Wu et al 1996) and for butyrate (Lu et al 2008). Glucose is a good energy source for epithelial cells (Mallet et al 1986), but it does not affect villus architecture or growth performance (Vente-Spreeuwenberg et al 2003). Digestibility of most nutrients increases along the gastrointestinal tract from duodenum onwards (Wilfart et al 2007).…”

“…According to Jin et al (1998) lactose and sucrose supported a better growth than glucose (all given at the level of 5% of feed) during the first and second week postweaning but in the third week postweaning no difference was found. In the experiment of Vente-Spreeuwenberg et al (2003) glucose and lactose did not affect growth performance and villus architecture. According to Posho et al (1994) the capacity of enterocytes to utilize glucose increased threefold between birth and 2 days of age.…”

Intestinal morphology assessments of rats fed phytic acid extract from sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and IP6

“…This may be one of the factors that contributed to the weight loss observed in rats fed phytate extract (Table ). The significant reduction in villi length observed in these two groups may also be as a result of lowered permeability of the intestines to nutrients or overall lack of nutrients arising from antinutrient factors within the extract. Data outlined in Fig.…”

Fermented pig liquid feed: nutritional, safety and regulatory aspects

“…pH 4, 20°C). A study performed by van Winsen et al (2001a) showed that in order to have a Salm. population below 4 log 10 CFU mol l )1 in 12 h, the concentration of lactic acid and acetic acid needed to be of 200 and 30 mmol l )1 , respectively, (pH 4AE2, 20°C).…”