PS7-22. Influence of Fiber Sources on Fecal Moisture, Ileal Digestibility, and Hindgut Disappearance of Energy and Nutrients in Nursery Pigs.

Abstract Fibers are often used in nursery pig diets to ameliorate postweaning diarrhea. Among the fiber sources, insoluble fiber is preferred to prevent the colonization of pathogenic bacteria. Fiber sources in nursery diets can differently affect fecal moisture and nutrient utilization in pigs potentially due to the soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) contents. The present experiment aimed to evaluate the influence of various fiber sources on fecal moisture content, apparent ileal digestibility (AID), apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), and hindgut disappearance of energy and nutrients in nursery pigs. Six barrows with an initial body weight of 11.0 kg (standard deviation = 0.5) were fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum and individually housed in pens. A basal diet was prepared based on corn, soybean meal, fish meal, whey powder, and corn starch. Five additional diets were prepared to contain 5.0% of fibrous ingredients at the expense of corn starch. The 5 fibrous ingredients were defatted rice bran (4.3% SDF and 22.5% IDF), wheat bran (4.3% SDF and 39.8% IDF), sugar beet pulp (16.2% SDF and 46.8% IDF), soybean hulls (6.6% SDF and 61.1% IDF), and sawdust (2.0% SDF and 88.8% IDF). The 6 experimental diets were assigned to the animals in a 6 × 6 Latin square design with 6 periods to obtain 6 observations for each diet. Each period consisted of 5 days of adaptation, 1 day of fecal collection, and 3 days of ileal digesta collection. The daily feed allowance per pig was calculated as 4.0% of initial body weight and divided into 3 equal meals provided at 0800, 1230, and 1700 h. Fecal moisture of the pigs fed the sawdust diet was less (63.9% vs. 68.0% or 68.4%; P < 0.05) than that of pigs fed the defatted rice bran diet or the sugar beet pulp diet. The AID of energy, dry matter, and organic matter in the basal diet was greatest (P < 0.05) among the 6 experimental diets whereas the AID of energy, dry matter, and organic matter in the sawdust diet was lowest (P < 0.05). The ATTD of energy, dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein in the basal diet was greater (P < 0.05) than that in the soybean hull diet or the sawdust diet. The ATTD of energy, dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein in the sawdust diet was less (P < 0.05) compared with other experimental diets. However, hindgut disappearance of energy and nutrients did not differ among the 6 experimental diets. Taken together, the inclusion of sawdust at 5% in the nursery pig diet resulted in reduced fecal moisture and ileal and total tract digestibility of energy and nutrients.