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. 2025 Jan 4:103:skaf076.
doi: 10.1093/jas/skaf076.

Effects of a fiber-degrading enzyme on ileal digestibility of amino acids and fiber and total tract digestibility of energy and fiber in growing pigs fed diets with high level of corn distillers grains with solubles

Jinsu Hong  1 , Joseph Halbur  1 , Amy L Petry  2 , Tri Doung  3 , Sara Llamas-Moya  3 , Steve Kitt  4 , Mark Bertram  4 , Eric Weaver  1
Affiliations

Effects of a fiber-degrading enzyme on ileal digestibility of amino acids and fiber and total tract digestibility of energy and fiber in growing pigs fed diets with high level of corn distillers grains with solubles

Jinsu Hong et al. J Anim Sci. .

Abstract

Dietary enzyme supplementation may enhance the digestibility and utilization of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in fiber-rich feedstuffs, which are increasingly being used in swine diets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a carbohydrase enzyme (CE) containing xylanase and cellulase on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients and fiber fractions in growing pigs. Twelve ileal-cannulated pigs (initial body weight (BW) = 31.7 ± 3.04 kg) were allocated to 1 of 2 experimental groups differing on CE (cellulase and xylanase) supplementation to a corn-soybean meal (SBM)-corn distillers grains with solubles (cDDGS) diet in a completely randomized design. Pigs were housed in individual metabolic crates for 21 d (period 1) and subsequently transferred to individual floor pens for an additional 28 d (period 2). Thus, experimental treatments included a corn-SBM-based diet with 30% cDDGS without (Control) or with CE at a dose of 0.2 g/kg of the diet. The diets were fed to pigs at 3 times their maintenance energy requirements based on their BW, which contained 0.3% titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. In period 1, pigs had 14 d of adaptation, followed by 4 d of fecal and urine collection using the total collection method and 2 d of ileal digesta collection. In period 2, pigs had 23 d of adaptation, followed by 2 d of fecal collection and 2 d of ileal digesta collection. Data were subjected to ANOVA using the MIXED procedure of SAS, and the model included the period as a repeated term. Dietary CE supplementation improved (P < 0.05) the AID of Ile (77.3% vs. 80.0%), Thr (73.8% vs. 77.8%), Trp (83.2 vs. 86.6), crude protein (CP, 71.1% vs. 75.9%), gross energy (GE, 61.5% vs. 67.6%), neutral detergent fiber (22.0% vs. 29.1%), insoluble dietary fiber (30.9% vs. 37.9%), total dietary fiber (29.2% vs. 37.1%), and cellulose (12.5% vs. 22.0%). The CE also improved (P < 0.05) the ATTD of dry matter (75.4% vs. 78.9%), organic matter (80.3% vs. 82.8%), CP (80.8% vs. 85.7%), crude ash (44.4% vs. 57.0%), calcium (58.5% vs. 66.1%), GE (76.5% vs. 79.4%), acid detergent fiber (40.7% vs. 48.2%), and total NSP (49.3% vs. 53.0%). In conclusion, supplementing a corn-SBM-30% cDDGS diet with carbohydrase enzyme with xylanase and cellulase activities increased the availability of nutrients and fiber fractions at the ileum, enhancing further the degradation in the total tract of growing pigs.

Keywords: cellulase; corn DDGS; digestibility; fiber; growing pigs; xylanase.

Plain language summary

As bioethanol production grows, corn distillers dried grains with solubles (cDDGS) have become a popular, cost-effective feed ingredient for pigs, replacing corn and soybean meal. However, cDDGS are high in fiber, which can reduce nutrient digestibility in pigs. Supplementation of exogenous enzymes like xylanase and cellulase to cDDGS diets can improve nutrient absorption and feed efficiency by breaking down these fibers and altering the gut environment. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of these enzymes in enhancing nutrient and fiber digestion in pigs fed a cDDGS-based diet. Twelve ileal-cannulated pigs were used for this digestibility study to evaluate the apparent total tract digestibility and apparent ileal digestibility of nutrients and fibers in pigs fed 30% cDDGS diets without or with carbohydrase enzyme. Supplementation of carbohydrase enzyme in 30% cDDGS diet improved apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein, gross energy, neutral detergent fiber, insoluble dietary fiber, total dietary fiber, and cellulose. In addition, carbohydrase enzyme supplementation improved the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, calcium, gross energy, acid detergent fiber, and total non-starch polysaccharides. Therefore, supplementing carbohydrase enzyme to a corn–soybean–cDDGS diet improved nutrient, energy, and fiber digestibility in pigs.

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