Performance and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs fed highly or low fermentable coarse or finely ground fibre-rich feedstuffs

Figures & data

Table 1. Ingredients and composition of experimental diets and fibre-rich feedstuff.

Feed type	Complete diets				Raw materials
Fibre type	Dried hemp		Apple pomace
Fibre particle size	Fine	Coarse	Fine	Coarse	Dried hemp	Apple pomace^a
Ingredients [g/kg]
Soybean meal	194.7	194.7	238.3	238.3
Corn	578	578	525.3	525.3
Dried hemp	140	140	0	0
Apple pomace	0	0	155	155
Oil	35.5	35.5	31.7	31.7
Mineral supplement	20	20	20	20
Calciumcarbonate	18	18	18	18
Titanium dioxide	3	3	3	3
L-lysine	4.9	4.9	4	4
D-/L-methionine	2.4	2.4	2	2
Threonine	2.6	2.6	2.1	2.1
Tryptophane	0.9	0.9	0.6	0.6
Analysed nutrient content
^bME [MJ/kg feed]	13.6	13.8	13.2	13.2
DM [g/kg feed]	901	903	911	908	914	915
Crude ash [g/kg DM]	61.2	61.7	52.2	49.8	98.3	14.0
Crude protein [g/kg DM]	190	185	185	181	163	50.6
Ether extract [g/kg DM]	79.7	84.7	61.7	59.5	35.1	17.7
Crude fibre [g/kg DM]	60.2	58.1	70.2	67.4	223	183
Starch [g/kg DM]	458	469	446	443
NDF [g/kg DM]	171	171	227	210	350	335
ADF [g/kg DM]	74.0	78.4	91.3	97.3	277	263
ADL [g/kg DM]	32.8	29.2	28.7	33.7	48.7	128.7
TDF [g/kg DM]	166	165	215	237	461	459
i-DF [g/kg DM]	163	157	187	205	428	349
s-DF [g/kg DM]	3.36	8.55	27.57	31.61	32.7	110
TiO2 [g/kg DM]	3.24	3.22	3.47	3.16
P [g/kg DM]	3.74	3.74	5.49	3.22
Ca [g/kg DM]	12.7	12.7	6.9	8.9
Cu [mg/kg DM]	36.8	29.7	32.1	29.4
Zn [mg/kg DM]	168	142	190	158
Indispensable amino acids [g/kg DM]
Arginine	12.1	11.0	11.9	11.7
Histidine	5.1	4.6	5.0	5.0
Isoleucine	8.3	7.4	8.4	8.3
Leucine	16.9	15	16.4	16.3
Lysine	13.7	12.5	13.1	13.2
Methionine	4.7	4.3	4.3	3.9
Phenylanaline	10.0	9.0	10.0	9.9
Threonine	9.3	8.3	8.9	8.6
Valine	14.5	13.9	9.1	15.2
Dispensable amino acids [g/kg DM]
Alanine	10.2	9.2	9.9	9.8
Aspartic acid	6.1	5.4	6.1	6.0
Cystine	3.3	3.0	3.0	3.0
Glutamic acid	35.1	31.2	34.9	34.7
Glycine	8.1	7.4	8.2	8.1
Proline	10.9	9.8	10.5	10.5
Serine	9.4	8.4	9.4	9.3
Tyrosine	5.8	5.4	5.8	5.8
Particle size [g/kg]
>4.0 mm	4	4	0	40
3.9–2.5	2	8	2	72
2.4–1.0	226	294	251	313
0.99–0.63	218	216	224	147
0.62–0.40	210	183	202	155
0.39–0.20	279	232	196	189
0.19–0.15	63	56	106	66
0.14–0.10	2	4	14	20
<0.10	0	0	8	0

^awith 5% pectins, ^bCalculated according to GfE (2008): ME [MJ/kg] = 0.021503 crude protein + 0.032497 ether extract + 0.016309 starch + 0.014701 organic residue − 0.021071 crude fibre (as analysed)

Table 2. Macroscopical evaluation of the stomach mucosa pars nonglandularis integrity in growing pigs as previously described (Grosse Liesner et al. 2009).

Score	Macroscopic appearance
0	Smooth, shiny, no hyperkeratosis
0.5	First signs of hyperkeratosis, swelling, rim
1	Mild hyperkeratosis, swelling, first signs at the edge region
1.5	Mild to moderate hyperkeratosis, proliferation mainly along the edge region
2	Moderate hyperkeratosis, proliferations along the edge and in the central region
2.5	Moderate to severe hyperkeratosis, proliferations visible at the entire area
3	Severe hyperkeratosis
4	Erosions
5	Ulceration

Table 3. Performance of piglets (n = 14/group, 2 piglets/pen) fed complete diets containing dried hemp or apple pomace either coarse or finely ground for 3 weeks (mean ± standard deviation).

Fibre type	Dried hemp		Apple pomace		p-value
Fibre particle size	Fine	Coarse	Fine	Coarse	Fibre type	Fibre particle size	Fibre type x fibre particle size
Pen weight start [kg]	43.2 ± 4.7	44 ± 3.3	43.4 ± 2.7	44.2 ± 3.3	0.892	0.580	0.992
Pen weight end [kg]	70.7 ± 7.5	71.0 ± 4.4	71.9 ± 6.6	66.4 ± 6.1	0.465	0.288	0.237
BWG [kg]	27.5 ± 3.4	27.1 ± 1.9	28.4 ± 4.2	22.5 ± 3.5	0.161	0.018	0.040
ADG [g]	688 ± 86	676 ± 48	711 ± 104	562 ± 88
ADFI [kg]	1.44 ± 0.2	1.61 ± 0.1	1.56 ± 0.18	1.34 ± 0.15	0.226	0.663	0.004
FCR	2.10 ± 0.25	2.39 ± 0.21	2.21 ± 0.17	2.41 ± 0.29	0.496	0.012	0.636
Faecal score (median)	4	4	3	3	<0.001	0.258	0.704

ADFI: average daily feed intake, ADG: average daily gain, BWG: bodyweight gain, FCR: feed conversion ratio.

Table 4. Organ weight and length as well as digesta pH in piglets (n = 8/group) fed complete diets containing dried hemp or apple pomace either coarse or finely ground for 3 weeks (mean ± standard deviation).

Fibre type		Dried hemp		Apple pomace		p-value
Fibre particle size	GIT section	Fine	Coarse	Fine	Coarse	Fibre type	Fibre particle size	Fibre type× particle size
BW at slaughter [kg]		36.3 ± 5.5	34.7 ± 2.9	35.4 ± 4.7	34.9 ± 2.6
Stomach score		0.75 ± 0.38	0.56 ± 0.42	0.25 ± 0.53	0.88 ± 1.30	0.729	0.421	0.141
pH	stomach	5.17 ± 2.40	4.44 ± 1.21	4.10 ± 1.32	3.73 ± 1.29	0.064	0.192	0.976
	jejunum	6.36 ± 0.37	6.44 ± 0.27	6.23 ± 0.94	6.51 ± 0.75	0.903	0.441	0.674
	ileum	6.35 ± 0.49	6.64 ± 0.4	6.24 ± 0.57	6.52 ± 0.82	0.597	0.175	0.969
	caecum	6.47 ± 1.20	5.95 ± 0.13	5.74 ± 0.22	5.65 ± 0.24	0.046	0.224	0.385
	proximal colon	6.18 ± 0.45	6.19 ± 0.15	6.00 ± 0.89	5.86 ± 0.35	0.204	0.730	0.683
	distal colon	6.22 ± 0.25	6.30 ± 0.13	5.63 ± 0.14	5.76 ± 0.21	<0.001	0.149	0.736
	faeces	7.08 ± 0.61	6.82 ± 0.39	6.02 ± 0.7	6.06 ± 0.26	<0.001	0.529	0.418
Viscosity [mPa•s]	jejunum	1.32 ± 0.23	1.40 ± 0.17	6.26 ± 2.24	5.29 ± 3.04	<0.001	0.512	0.437
	proximal colon	1.61 ± 0.26	1.90 ± 0.34	1.50 ± 0.4	2.20 ± 1.24	0.691	0.053	0.422
	distal colon	2.69 ± 1.36	2.73 ± 1.08	1.79 ± 0.73	4.38 ± 2.92	0.543	0.038	0.044
Relative organ weight	pancreas	2.08 ± 0.14	2.01 ± 0.55	2.32 ± 0.29	2.37 ± 0.48	0.045	0.920	0.658
[g/kg BW]	liver	29.1 ± 3.3	29.0 ± 2.8	29.3 ± 2.9	29.0 ± 1.4	0.881	0.851	0.903
Jejunum length [m]		13.1 ± 1.4	12.5 ± 1.3	13.8 ± 1.1	13.8 ± 1.8	0.042	0.525	0.574
GIT relative organ weight: empty	stomach	22.2 ± 5.9	18.1 ± 5.7	38.3 ± 7.3	44.2 ± 18.6	<0.001	0.811	0.205
[g/kg BW]	Jejunum	45.8 ± 3.6	48.4 ± 5.3	52.7 ± 3.7	51.6 ± 7.2	0.010	0.702	0.312
	Ileum	12.0 ± 2.2	9.4 ± 2.5	12.8 ± 3.9	12.5 ± 3.8	0.099	0.212	0.336
	Caecum	8.7 ± 2.8	7.9 ± 2.6	10.3 ± 4.4	10.1 ± 3.4	0.118	0.677	0.822
	Colon	29.3 ± 5.5	25.9 ± 5.8	23.6 ± 7.8	22.3 ± 8.5	0.074	0.361	0.672
GIT: relative intestinal content weight	stomach	14.4 ± 6	10.3 ± 6	30.7 ± 7	34.5 ± 20	<0.001	0.765	0.564
[g/kg BW]	jejunum	12.5 ± 1.7	11.5 ± 3.3	18.3 ± 2.4	15.6 ± 4.2	<0.001	0.166	0.332
	ileum	4.37 ± 0.28	2.80 ± 1.81	6.14 ± 3.3	4.77 ± 2.5	0.070	0.112	0.991
	caecum	6.00 ± 2.57	5.01 ± 2.29	7.62 ± 4.13	6.79 ± 3.39	0.257	0.564	0.895
	colon	19.5 ± 5.3	17.2 ± 4.7	14.8 ± 6.2	12.4 ± 7.2	0.100	0.332	0.613

BW: bodyweight, GIT: gastrointestinal tract.

Table 5. Nutrient digestibility in piglets (n = 8/group) fed complete diets containing dried hemp or apple pomace either coarse or finely ground for 3 weeks (mean ± standard deviation).

Fibre Type	Dried hemp		Apple pomace		p-value
Particle size	Fine	Coarse	Fine	Coarse	Fibre type	Fibre particle size	Fibre type × particle size
AID [%]
Crude protein	67.8 ± 10.3	61.6 ± 16.6	66.0 ± 11.2	62.0 ± 12.3	0.517	0.869	0.345
Total amino acids	76.2 ± 7.5	70.7 ± 12.7	73.0 ± 9.9	71.5 ± 9.5	0.427	0.817	0.575
Indispensable amino acids
Arginine	83.1 ± 4.8	76.0 ± 12.7	81.9 ± 6.6	80.8 ± 7.4	0.783	0.734	0.623
Histidine	77.3 ± 7.5	71.3 ± 13.9	71.9 ± 11.7	72.8 ± 8.2	0.257	0.655	0.690
Isoleucine	76.2 ± 7.1	70.7 ± 12.9	75.8 ± 8.2	75.3 ± 7.4	0.897	0.736	0.595
Leucine	75.9 ± 8.6	71.1 ± 13.8	71.9 ± 12.2	73.6 ± 8.2	0.506	0.515	0.656
Lysine	82.2 ± 5.5	72.9 ± 13.4	80.4 ± 7.6	78.7 ± 7.6	0.780	0.821	0.636
Methionine	84.5 ± 6.0	77.5 ± 12.9	83.0 ± 7.1	83.8 ± 4.9	0.799	0.545	0.642
Phenylalanine	77.8 ± 7.3	73.4 ± 12.1	75.8 ± 9.8	76.3 ± 7.1	0.749	0.612	0.608
Threonine	72.0 ± 9.5	64.6 ± 15.4	69.5 ± 11.6	69.8 ± 7.9	0.831	0.842	0.694
Valine	83.8 ± 5.4	77.4 ± 12.2	83.8 ± 6.7	73.4 ± 7.4	0.043	0.071	0.005
Dispensable amino acids
Alanine	70.2 ± 10.3	61.7 ± 17.7	66.9 ± 12.4	67.0 ± 10.5	0.734	0.832	0.716
Aspartic acid	77.1 ± 6.3	68.2 ± 13.2	74.9 ± 7.7	72.1 ± 7.8	0.517	0.697	0.550
Cysteine	65.1 ± 12.3	59.1 ± 17.5	62.6 ± 13.1	54.9 ± 13.6	0.193	0.968	0.369
Glutamic acid	79.1 ± 6.1	71.4 ± 12.5	76.2 ± 7.8	74.9 ± 9.5	0.476	0.803	0.828
Glycine	59.1 ± 11.6	51.6 ± 20.7	48.9 ± 19.5	53.7 ± 6.0	0.217	0.807	0.893
Proline	69.6 ± 10.1	61.1 ± 19.6	60.1 ± 13.4	63.5 ± 11.8	0.058	0.201	0.879
Serine	70.7 ± 9.7	66.1 ± 13.1	68.9 ± 11.9	69.7 ± 7.8	0.870	0.683	0.596
Tyrosine	72.7 ± 9.2	68.1 ± 14.1	70.4 ± 11.8	70.1 ± 9.5	0.651	0.633	0.503
Minerals
Ca	41.8 ± 11.9	52.5 ± 15.7	76.6 ± 8.9	76.8 ± 16.6	<0.001	0.305	0.325
Zn	15.8 ± 20.3	17.7 ± 24.0	0.6 ± 13.2	−9.7 ± 33.4	0.016	0.222	0.998
Cu	62.9 ± 11.7	41.4 ± 38.7	53.6 ± 8.0	56.4 ± 8.4	0.823	0.103	0.045
ATTD [%]
Crude protein	74.2 ± 3.2	75.6 ± 3.2	67 ± 3.2	64.9 ± 8	<0.001	0.440	0.027
Total amino acids	81.3 ± 2.5	80.9 ± 3.3	74.6 ± 2.6	74.9 ± 8	<0.001	0.484	0.764
Indispensable amino acids
Arginine	86 ± 2.1	85.3 ± 2.7	81.4 ± 1.7	81.7 ± 4.2	0.001	0.497	0.961
Histidine	84.1 ± 2	83.8 ± 3	76.2 ± 1.6	78.1 ± 5.0	<0.001	0.200	0.719
Isoleucine	76.1 ± 3.4	75.4 ± 4.8	70.9 ± 3.7	71.4 ± 6.2	0.009	0.421	0.768
Leucine	79 ± 2.8	80 ± 1.8	72.9 ± 2.9	74.8 ± 5.5	0.003	0.241	0.879
Lysine	82.3 ± 2.7	82.3 ± 3.2	75.4 ± 2.9	75.3 ± 5.7	<0.001	0.425	0.672
Methionine	81.9 ± 2.6	83 ± 0.8	72.4 ± 2.9	72.5 ± 3.0	<0.001	0.407	0.689
Phenylalanine	80.2 ± 2.5	80.9 ± 1.9	75.6 ± 2.9	76.7 ± 5.2	0.011	0.332	0.983
Threonine	79.8 ± 4.2	77.8 ± 3.6	70.8 ± 3.4	72.1 ± 6.4	0.001	0.601	0.651
Valine	85.8 ± 2	86.3 ± 2.6	83.3 ± 1.4	72.0 ± 6.1	<0.001	0.016	0.001
Dispensable amino acids
Alanine	73.9 ± 3.7	73.6 ± 4.8	64.5 ± 3.6	66.1 ± 8.0	0.001	0.318	0.973
Aspartic acid	80.7 ± 3.8	78.9 ± 3.4	73.8 ± 1.8	71.1 ± 6.7	0.001	0.566	0.562
Cysteine	80.1 ± 2.6	79.7 ± 0.9	67.1 ± 1.7	68.9 ± 3.3	<0.001	0.413	0.266
Glutamic acid	85.1 ± 2.3	84.6 ± 3.1	80.0 ± 1.7	80.7 ± 4.6	0.001	0.410	0.955
Glycine	74.3 ± 3.2	74.3 ± 4.2	66.5 ± 3.1	67.8 ± 7.4	0.001	0.269	0.905
Proline	81.3 ± 2.4	81.6 ± 3.1	70.6 ± 2.8	74.1 ± 5.7	<0.001	0.099	0.528
Serine	80.7 ± 3.3	79.3 ± 3.4	73.9 ± 2.8	75.4 ± 5.7	0.003	0.442	0.641
Tyrosine	76.2 ± 3.1	76.3 ± 4.3	69.4 ± 4.1	69.5 ± 6.7	0.001	0.443	0.632
Minerals
Ca	62.3 ± 15.3	63.8 ± 19.4	62.5 ± 18.4	59.5 ± 27.0	0.786	0.815	0.851
Zn	20.3 ± 5.0	17.1 ± 6.7	14.5 ± 8.5	10.0 ± 11.5	0.029	0.171	0.893
Cu	65.5 ± 4.2	67.7 ± 4.7	67.1 ± 3.6	66.8 ± 5.6	0.754	0.831	0.727

AID: apparent ileal digestibility; ATTD: apparent total tract digestibility.

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Grosse Liesner V, Taube V, Leonhard-Marek S, Beineke A, Kamphues J. 2009. Integrity of gastric mucosa in reared piglets – effects of physical form of diets (meal/pellets), pre-processing grinding (coarse/fine) and addition of lignocellulose (0/2.5 %). J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 93:373–380. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2008.00871.x.

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Data availability statement

Raw data were generated at the Institute of Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin. Derived data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author ES on request.