Effect of feeding organic acids on selected intestinal content measurements at varying times postweaning in pigs

Abstract

Pigs weaned at 21 d of age (n = 72) were fed a 20% CP corn-soybean meal-based diet (control) with 1.5% fumaric or 1.5% citric acid added to observe the effect of these acids on the pH, chloride ion concentration (Cl-), VFA profile, and microflora population in the stomach, jejunum, cecum, and lower colon contents at -2, 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21 d postweaning. Feeding organic acids had no appreciable effect (P greater than .10) on stomach jejunum, cecum, or lower colon pH, Cl-, VFA profile, or microflora populations, except for increasing the concentration of fumaric acid in the stomachs of pigs fed fumaric acid. The pH of the gastrointestinal tract generally decreased from -2 to 21 d postweaning with no corresponding change in Cl- over time. No age effects on total anaerobic culture counts were observed except in the stomach, where counts decreased from -2 to 3 d postweaning. Clostridia counts generally decreased after weaning in all intestinal sections. Lactobacillus counts were usually lower at d 0 and 3 and greatest at d 7 postweaning in the stomach, jejunum, and lower colon, but no age effect was observed for concentration of cecum lactobacilli. Escherichia coli counts generally increased after weaning to 3 and 7 d postweaning. Intestinal content measurements were affected by postweaning age but were not affected by feeding organic acids.