Effect of orange fibre on nutrient digestibility and fermentation products in faeces of cats fed kibble diets

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to compare orange fibre, beet pulp and inulin as fibre sources for cats. A control diet (CON) was formulated without inclusion of a fibre source. Further experimental diets were also based on diet CON but were supplemented with 1% orange fibre (diet 1%OF); 3% orange fibre (diet 3%OF); 3% beet pulp (diet 3%BP) or 1% inulin (diet 1%IN). Forty cats were used in a randomised block design (4 blocks of 10 cats, 2 animals per food in each block, totalling 8 animals per treatment). Each block lasted 20 d, with 10 d of adaptation, 10 d of faecal collection for digestibility as well as evaluation of pH-value and fermentation products. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, starch and gross energy did not vary between diets. In diet 1%OF, dietary fibre revealed a greater digestibility than in diet CON (p < 0.05). Faecal production was higher in cats fed diets 3%OF and 3%BP than in those fed diet 1%IN (p < 0.05). Faecal concentrations of acetate and total short-chain fatty acids were higher for cats fed diet 3%BP than for those fed diets 1%IN and CON (p < 0.05), while diets 1%OF and 3%OF showed intermediate results. Faecal propionate concentration was higher for cats fed diet 3%BP, intermediate for diets 1%OF, 3%OF and 1%IN and lower for animals fed diet CON (p < 0.05). Compared with diets CON and 1%IN, the faecal concentration of tyramine was higher for cats fed diet 3%OF (p < 0.05). Orange fibre was fermentable; up to 3% inclusion it did not interfere with the digestibility of nutrients, faecal score and faecal moisture content, and promoted the formation of short-chain fatty acids and tyramine by the intestinal microbiota, with possible effects on intestinal function.

KEYWORDS:

• Beet pulp
• byproducts
• cats
• digestibility
• inulin
• oranges
• soluble fibre
• tyramine

Acknowledgments

This study was financed in part by the “Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior” - Brazil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. The authors would like to thank Citrosuco/BR for the financial support of the study, Affinity Petcare (Campinas, Brazil) and Manfrim industrial (Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, Brazil) for the financial support to Research Laboratory in Nutrition and Nutritional Diseases of Dogs and Cats “Prof. Dr. Flávio Prada” and Manzoni Industrial Ltda. (Campinas, Brazil) for the donation of the extruder used in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Citrosuco S/A [3429]; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior [001].