Effects of dietary fructo-oligosaccharide on villous height and disaccharidase activity of the small intestine, pH, VFA and ammonia concentrations in the large intestine of weaned pigs

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate changes in the lumen and wall of the intestinal tract of weaned pigs caused by fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and consequences for growth. Twelve male pigs weaned at 24 days were individually housed and fed either control, 0.25% FOS, or 3% FOS diets for 21 days after weaning. The pH of chyme in the caecum and proximal colon were lower (p<0.001) in 3% FOS compared to other treatments. Mean molar proportions (%) of total SCFA values along the large intestine were significantly affected by FOS diet. Acetic acid was significantly higher in control compared with other treatments. Butyric acid and isobutyric acid were significantly increased in 0.25 and 3% FOS compared to the control. Feed intake, empty body weight gain, disaccharidase activities and villous height in the small intestine were not significantly affected by FOS. It was concluded that dietary FOS stimulates fermentation in the large intestine, but does not significantly affect enzyme activity, ammonia content, villous height and growth.

Keywords:

• Feed intake
• pigs
• fermentation
• post-weaning