Influence of Dietary Fiber on the Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Performance of Gilts

Optimal intestinal development in gilts is a prerequisite for a better farrowing and a higher feed intake in lactation, and these are important facets in improving animal welfare for sows in a high-performance situation. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a fiber-rich diet on these t...

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Main Authors: Miriam Priester, Christian Visscher, Michaela Fels, Georg Dusel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
Series:Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/12/4961
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spelling doaj-7190d1919b034991ace6e13acdbc34d22020-11-25T02:28:52ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502020-06-01124961496110.3390/su12124961Influence of Dietary Fiber on the Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Performance of GiltsMiriam Priester0Christian Visscher1Michaela Fels2Georg Dusel3Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Bingen, Berlinstraße 109, D-55411 Bingen, GermanyInstitute for Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, GermanyInstitute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bischofsholer Damm 15, D-30173 Hannover, GermanyDepartment of Animal Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Bingen, Berlinstraße 109, D-55411 Bingen, GermanyOptimal intestinal development in gilts is a prerequisite for a better farrowing and a higher feed intake in lactation, and these are important facets in improving animal welfare for sows in a high-performance situation. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a fiber-rich diet on these topics. Studies with 20 male Topigs castrates and a performance study with 38 female siblings were conducted. Pigs in both of the groups were offered either a control diet (CG) or a high fiber diet (FG) during the second half of the rearing phase (~97 kg BW) until 7 days a.p. At the time of the insemination of the gilts (body weight >170 kg), the castrates were slaughtered and the morphological parameters of the gastrointestinal tract were taken. In the performance study, the feed intake as well as the number and weight of the live and stillborn piglets and the weaning weight of the litters were recorded. The results indicated that the high fiber diet with a greater swelling capacity was beneficial to the development of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach weight CG = 714 g, FG = 812 g, <i>p</i> = 0.007), increased the litter weight (CG =15.9 kg, FG = 20.6 kg, <i>p</i> = 0.045) and resulted in a higher feed intake during lactation overall (CG = 196 kg, FG = 211 kg, <i>p</i> = 0.035).https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/12/4961animal nutritioncryptfecal consistencyfarrowingfeed intakelitter size
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Miriam Priester
Christian Visscher
Michaela Fels
Georg Dusel
spellingShingle Miriam Priester
Christian Visscher
Michaela Fels
Georg Dusel
Influence of Dietary Fiber on the Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Performance of Gilts
Sustainability
animal nutrition
crypt
fecal consistency
farrowing
feed intake
litter size
author_facet Miriam Priester
Christian Visscher
Michaela Fels
Georg Dusel
author_sort Miriam Priester
title Influence of Dietary Fiber on the Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Performance of Gilts
title_short Influence of Dietary Fiber on the Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Performance of Gilts
title_full Influence of Dietary Fiber on the Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Performance of Gilts
title_fullStr Influence of Dietary Fiber on the Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Performance of Gilts
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Dietary Fiber on the Development of the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Performance of Gilts
title_sort influence of dietary fiber on the development of the gastrointestinal tract and the performance of gilts
publisher MDPI AG
series Sustainability
issn 2071-1050
publishDate 2020-06-01
description Optimal intestinal development in gilts is a prerequisite for a better farrowing and a higher feed intake in lactation, and these are important facets in improving animal welfare for sows in a high-performance situation. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a fiber-rich diet on these topics. Studies with 20 male Topigs castrates and a performance study with 38 female siblings were conducted. Pigs in both of the groups were offered either a control diet (CG) or a high fiber diet (FG) during the second half of the rearing phase (~97 kg BW) until 7 days a.p. At the time of the insemination of the gilts (body weight >170 kg), the castrates were slaughtered and the morphological parameters of the gastrointestinal tract were taken. In the performance study, the feed intake as well as the number and weight of the live and stillborn piglets and the weaning weight of the litters were recorded. The results indicated that the high fiber diet with a greater swelling capacity was beneficial to the development of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach weight CG = 714 g, FG = 812 g, <i>p</i> = 0.007), increased the litter weight (CG =15.9 kg, FG = 20.6 kg, <i>p</i> = 0.045) and resulted in a higher feed intake during lactation overall (CG = 196 kg, FG = 211 kg, <i>p</i> = 0.035).
topic animal nutrition
crypt
fecal consistency
farrowing
feed intake
litter size
url https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/12/4961
work_keys_str_mv AT miriampriester influenceofdietaryfiberonthedevelopmentofthegastrointestinaltractandtheperformanceofgilts
AT christianvisscher influenceofdietaryfiberonthedevelopmentofthegastrointestinaltractandtheperformanceofgilts
AT michaelafels influenceofdietaryfiberonthedevelopmentofthegastrointestinaltractandtheperformanceofgilts
AT georgdusel influenceofdietaryfiberonthedevelopmentofthegastrointestinaltractandtheperformanceofgilts
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