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Digestive development of the early-weaned pig

2. Effect of level of food intake on digestive enzyme activity during the immediate post-weaning period

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

D. Kelly ,
J. A. Smyth  and
K. J. Mccracken
D. Kelly
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Agricultural Chemistry, The Queen's University of Belfast, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX
J. A. Smyth
Affiliation:
Veterinary Research Laboratory, Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SD
K. J. Mccracken
Affiliation:
Department of Food and Agricultural Chemistry, The Queen's University of Belfast, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX Food and Agricultural Chemistry Research Division, Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX
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Abstract

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Gastric intubation was adopted as a means of comparing the effect of two feeding levels, continuous nutrient supply (C) and restricted nutrient supply (R), on the digestive development of pigs weaned at 14 d of age, during the first 5 d post-weaning. The absolute weights of the stomach and the pancreas were significantly greater (P < 0.001) in C compared with R pigs. The effect was not significant for pancreas weight when expressed per kg body-weight but was significant (P < 0.05) for stomach weight. The weights of the small intestine (SI), SI mucosa and total mucosal protein were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in C pigs but protein content per g mucosa was similar in the C and R groups. There was no significant effect of treatment on the activity of lactase (β-glucosidase; EC 3.2.1.23) or sucrase (sucrose-α-glucosidase; EC 3.2.1.48) irrespective of the basis of comparison used. The specific activity (μmol/min per g protein) of maltase (α-glucosidase; EC 3.2.1.20) and of glucoamylase (glucan-1,4-α-glucosidase; EC 3.2.1.3) were similar in C and R groups but activities of maltase (μmol/g mucosa) (P < 0.05), and maltase and glucoamylase (mol/d) (P < 0.01) were significantly higher in C pigs. Villous height and crypt depth were significantly greater in C pigs (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 respectively). Enteroglucagon was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in C compared with R pigs. Xylose absorption and the digestibility of energy were not affected by treatment. Digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein (nitrogen x 6.25) and carbohydrate were significantly higher (P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively) in R pigs compared with C pigs but the differences were small, ranging from 1.3 to 2.5 %. These results demonstrate that (1) nutrient intake in the weaned pig affects the anatomy, morphology and function of the gut, (2) there is considerable ‘spare capacity’ for digestion of cereal-based diets even in pigs weaned at 14 d of age, (3) measurements in vitro of digestive function are of limited value unless supported by information in vivo on absorption/digestibility.

Keywords

Digestive developmentDigestive enzyme activityPig
Type
Development of Intestinal Function
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 65 , Issue 2 , March 1991 , pp. 181 - 188
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1991

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