Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Mar;4(1):31-36.
doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2017.10.006. Epub 2017 Nov 3.

Fecal scores and microbial metabolites in weaned piglets fed different protein sources and levels

Xiaolu Wen  1 , Li Wang  1 , Chuntian Zheng  1 , Xuefen Yang  1 , Xianyong Ma  1 , Yunpeng Wu  1 , Zhuang Chen  2 , Zongyong Jiang  1   2
Affiliations

Fecal scores and microbial metabolites in weaned piglets fed different protein sources and levels

Xiaolu Wen et al. Anim Nutr. 2018 Mar.

Abstract

This experiment studied the effects of dietary protein sources and levels on the gut health of piglets, pH value, and concentrations of microbial metabolites (ammonia-N, volatile fatty acids [VFA], and polyamines) in the distal colonic and proximal colonic digesta of piglets weaned at 21 d of age. A total of 150 early-weaned piglets were allotted randomly to 5 diets: 1) control diet (CT; 17% CP), 2) CT formulated with more soy protein concentrate (SPC19; 19% CP), 3) more fish meal (FM19; 19% CP), 4) CT formulated with more soy protein concentrate (SPC23; 23% CP), and 5) more fish meal (FM23; 23%CP). Results showed high protein level increased fecal score (P < 0.05), but different protein sources did not (P > 0.05). The pH value and ammonia-N concentration of digesta in the proximal and distal colon of FM23 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of CT. Acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and valeric acid concentrations in the proximal colon of FM23 exceeded those of CT, SPC19, and FM19 (P < 0.05); however, isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid were not affected (P > 0.05). Histamine and spermidine concentrations of FM23 were higher than those of other treatments (P < 0.05). Propionic acid and butyric acid concentrations in the distal colon were higher of FM23 than of FM19 (P < 0.05); putrescine, histamine and spermidine were higher of FM23 than of LP and FM19 (P < 0.05). It was concluded that high dietary CP content increased microbial metabolites (ammonia-N, histamine, putrescine) in colonic digesta and aggravated piglets' diarrhea.

Keywords: Diarrhea; Microbial metabolites; Piglet; Protein level; Protein source.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Ball R.O., Aherne F.X. Influence of dietary nutrient density, level of feed intake and weaning age on young pigs. II. Apparent nutrient digestibility and incidence and severity of diarrhea. Can J Anim Sci. 1988;67(4):1105–1115.
    1. Bikker P., Dirkzwager A., Fledderus J., Trevisi P., Huerou-Luron I., Lalles J.P. The effect of dietary protein and fermentable carbohydrates levels on growth performance and intestinal characteristics in newly weaned piglets. J Anim Sci. 2006;84(12):3337–3345. - PubMed
    1. Che L., Zhan L., Fang Z., Lin Y., Yan T., Wu D. Effects of dietary protein sources on growth performance and immune response of weanling pigs. Livest Sci. 2012;148(1–2):1–9.
    1. Cranwell P.D. Development of the neonatal gut and enzyme systems. In: Varley M.A., editor. The Neonatal Pig: Development and Survival. CAB International; Wallingford, UK: 1995. pp. 99–154.
    1. Dong G., Zhou A., Yang F. Effect of dietary protein levels on the large intestinal protein putrefaction and diarrhoea in early-weaned pigs. Acta Veterinaria Zootechnica Sinica. 1996;27:293–302. [in Chiense]

LinkOut - more resources