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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #410238
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 digesta short chain fatty acid composition and pH 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 HERNANDEZ, SEBASTIAN - Texas Tech University
item LEGAKO, JERRAD - Texas Tech University
item Broadway, Paul
item Sanchez, Nicole
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll
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: Pigs can obtain energy from fiberous feedstuffs through a symbiotic relationship with their gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome resulting in the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA). An experiment was conducted to investigate how insoluble corn-based fiber sources (CBF) influence GI changes in SCFA production in growing pigs. 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 d 31, pigs were necropsied, and ileal, cecal, and colonic digesta were collected for immediate SCFA analyses, and stomach, jejunal, ileal, and cecal digesta pH was measured. 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. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in jejunal nor stomach pH. Ileal pH was greatest (P = 0.01) in HP, DDGS, and CGM diets. Cecal pH was greatest in the BRN diet and in COR and HP (P<0.01). Molar proportions of ileal SCFAs did not differ (P > 0.05) between treatments. In the cecum, molar proportions of butyrate production did not differ (P = 0.74). Cecal acetate proportions were least in CTL, COR, and (P = 0.025). Cecal propionate proportions were greatest in BRN and least in DHDG, COR, and CGM (P=0.13). Isobutyrate proportions in the cecum were lesser for COR and DDGS (P < 0.01). In the colon, there were no differences in molar proportions of acetate, butyrate, nor isobutyrate (P > 0.10). However, HP and CGM had the smallest proportions of propionate in the colon and COR and BRN had the greatest (P = 0.04). Collectively, different fibrous components of CBF can influence SCFA composition in growing pigs.