THE FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DIETARY FIBER IN GROWING PIG NUTRITION

The non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) stimulate the lactic acid producing bacteria, lower the intestinal luminal pH, lead to fewer cases of diarrhea and improve gut health. The short-chain fatty acids as products of bacterial fiber fermentation are used as a source of energy, and also stimulate the proliferation and growth of intestinal cells. The fermentable carbohydrates in the large intestine are available to the existing bacteria as an energy source and shift N excretion from the urine to the feces. The addition of exogenous NSP-degrading enzymes improves nutrient digestibility and growth performance of growing pigs and can influence the gut microbiota.