Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #410235
Research Project: Environmental and Management Influences on Animal Productivity and Well-Being Phenotypes

Location: Livestock Issues Research

Title: The impact of corn-based fiber on intestinal morphology and disaccharidase activity in growing pigs

Author
item MILLER, HANNAH - University Of Missouri
item SELF, RACHEL - University Of Missouri
item SASSER, CASSIDY - Texas Tech University
item BALSER, AMELIA - Texas Tech University
item Broadway, Paul
item Sanchez, Nicole
item Carroll, Jeffery
item CRUZ PENN, MICHAEL - Texas Tech University
item PETRY, AMY - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/6/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Dietary changes can modify gastrointestinal architecture and function; thus, our objective was to evaluate how different insoluble corn-based fiber sources (CBF) impact intestinal morphology and brush-border disaccharidases. Two replicates of 28 gilts (26.7 ± 2.5 kg BW; PIC800 x Camborough; N = 56), were randomly assigned to 1 of 7 semi-synthetic diets. Dietary treatments included a control (CTL) diet with a formulated total dietary fiber (TDF) value of <1% and 6 diets with a CBF replacing 30% of the corn starch in CTL: dehulled degermed corn (DHDG; TDF = 1.09%), ground corn (COR; TDF = 3.24%), high protein dried distillers grains (HP; TDF = 8.79%), dried distillers grains (DDGS; TDF = 9.35%), corn gluten meal (CGM; TDF = 9.88%), and corn bran (BRN; TDF = 13.15%). Pigs were individually housed and limit-fed 2.4 times maintenance. On d31, pigs were necropsied, and duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon tissue were collected. Data were analyzed as a linear mixed model with treatment as a fixed effect, replicate as a random slope or fixed effect, where appropriate, using the mixed procedure of SAS. In the duodenum, DHDG, COR, and CGM had the least concentrations of maltase production (P = 0.04). Sucrase production was least for BRN and HP whereas DHDG had the greatest (P=0.04). Duodenal villi height was shortest in CTL and BRN compared to HP, DDGS, and CGM which had the tallest (P < 0.01). Similarly, CTL and BRN had the shallowest duodenal crypt depth (P < 0.01) and tended (P = 0.08) to have a lesser duodenal villi:crypt ratio compared to the other treatments. There were no differences (P > 0.05) among treatments for ileal sucrase or lactase production, but maltase production was greatest in CTL, DDGS, and CGM (P < 0.03). Relative to CTL and BRN, gilts fed HP, DDGS, and CGM, had the tallest villus height in the ileum (P = 0.01). However, ileal villi:crypt ratio nor crypt depth differed (P > 0.10). Cecal crypt depth for BRN increased 32% compared to CTL (P < 0.01). Cecal crypt width was narrowest in CTL and DHDG and widest in HP, DDGS, CGM, and CB (P < 0.01). Colon crypt width was narrowest in CTL and DHDG and widest in DDGS, CGM, and CB (P < 0.01). Collectively, these data demonstrate that different fiber types have a significant impact on intestinal morphology and disaccharidase production in the growing pig.