Influencing the piglet's gut microbiota with dietary fibre
Octubre de
2019
Autora:
Dr. Nina Neufeld
Publicado en:
Asian Pork Magazine
Dr. Nina Neufeld
Publicado en:
Asian Pork Magazine
The intestine is the body’s largest surface in contact with the environment and of immense importance for the immune system. Especially in very young animals when development of the gut and the immune system is in progress all factors impairing gut health have tremendous effects on overall-health and performance with lifetime consequences. But this is also the period of life when gut health can be positively influenced by dietary management. Dr. Astrid de Greef from Wageningen University recently reported that the piglet’s microbiota can be influenced even intrauterine. She presented a scientific investigation that revealed in what way the piglet’s gut flora was modified when the sow was treated with an antibiotic (amoxicillin as model intervention) during gestation: a decrease in absolute amount of gut bacteria in jejunum and ileum was reported. Furthermore, morphology and function of gut mucosa were concerned as jejunum and ileum had deeper crypts without higher villi, and the number of goblet cells were decreased. Goblet cells are responsible for the production of the mucosa protecting mucus, a reduction most probably represents a health risk for the piglet. In another trial scientists from Wageningen proved that probiotics alter the microbiome of the intestine of piglets as the applied bacteria could be found in jejunum Reduction or banning of antibiotic growth promoters in animal production is an important topic in a growing number of Asian countries. NINA NEUFELD* considers that dietary interventions with insoluble fiber sources offer a great potential to support weaner performance. Influencing the piglet’s gut microbiota with dietary fiberand ileum in significant amounts. These scientific results show that the piglet’s gut microbiome can be modified by external factors. The time frame when the piglet’s gut is most sensible for external influences begins intrauterine from one week before farrowing and lasts till two weeks after weaning.
What are the positive effects of dietary fiber in piglets?
In adult pigs up to 25% of the energy requirement for maintenance is derived from hindgut fermentation. This reveals the importance of dietary fiber for health and performance although of course the situation in piglets is different. It is also of importance to support the healthy microbiome of the hindgut in the developing intestine. The term dietary fiber describes feed components which are not degraded by the animal’s enzymes and therefore pass through the small intestine. We can distinguish non-fermentable from fermentable dietary fiber. Non-fermentable dietary fiber improves gut passage rate and prevents ascension of pathogens from the large intestine. Due to the improved passage rate, fermentable fiber is transported to the hindgut, where it can fully unfold its positive effects as the energy source for gut bacteria.
Lignocellulose as beneficial fiber source for piglets
The fiber concentrate OptiCell (Agromed Austria GmbH) is a synergistic combination of insoluble fermentable and non-fermentable dietary fiber (2nd generation lignocellulose). OptiCell is a natural product made of fresh wood. In an extensive manufacturing process, it is ground to a particle size of 50-120 microns. This procedure is important for the physiological function, as the small particles provide a large surface area for bacterial fermentation. The non-fermentable parts of this lignocellulose stimulate gut motility and guarantee optimal gut peristalsis. This prevents constipation and ascension of pathogenic bacteria from the hindgut, an important factor protecting the piglet from diarrhea. Fermentable feed components reach the hindgut and serve as an energy source for the microflora as mentioned above. Fermentable parts of OptiCell selectively promote the development of Lactobacilli.The produced lactic acid inhibits pathogens and is metabolized by Firmicutes bacteria. Firmicutes metabolize lactic acid to butyric acid, which is reabsorbed by the animal and develops anti-inflammatory effects. Butyric acid is an important factor for gut development, especially for growth of villi of the small intestine, in improving hindgut water reabsorption and subsequently, in optimizing fecal quality. So butyric acid is of special importance in piglets as their digestive tract is developing.
