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Increasing viscosity of the intestinal contents alters small intestinal structure and intestinal growth, and stimulates proliferation of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in newly-weaned pigs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

D. E. McDonald ,
D. W. Pethick ,
B. P. Mullan  and
D. J. Hampson
D. E. McDonald*
Affiliation:
Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
D. W. Pethick
Affiliation:
Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
B. P. Mullan
Affiliation:
Agriculture WA, Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, Western Australia, Australia
D. J. Hampson
Affiliation:
Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Deborah E. McDonald, fax +61 89310 4144, email debmcdon@numbat.murdoch.edu.au
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Abstract

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Sources of viscous soluble fibre, such as barley and oats, have often been included in the weaning diet of the pig to accelerate development of the large intestine. Inclusion of a non-fermentable, viscous compound, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), in a low-fibre weaning diet was tested to assess the influence of digesta viscosity on the gut in the absence of increased fermentation. Two CMC sources, of low and high viscosity, were added to cooked rice-based diet at 40 g/kg total diet. A third control rice diet did not contain any CMC. Diets were fed for 13 d following weaning at 3 weeks of age. Addition of CMC to the diet significantly increased the intestinal viscosity of digesta within the small (P<0·001) and large (P<0·05) intestine. No simple association was found between increases in intestinal viscosity and effects on intestinal morphology and whole-body growth. The average empty-body-weight gain and the small intestinal villus height increased with low-viscosity CMC, but decreased with the high-viscosity CMC group. The full large intestinal weight increased in all pigs fed CMC. Dietary CMC (both low- and high-viscosity) increased the percentage moisture of digesta and faeces, and was associated with increased faecal shedding of enterotoxigenic haemolytic Escherichia coli. Feed ingredients in weaning diets that excessively increase the viscosity of the intestinal digesta may be detrimental to pig health and production.

Keywords

Intestinal adaptationViscosityCarboxymethylcelluloseEscherichia coliPig
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 86 , Issue 4 , October 2001 , pp. 487 - 498
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2001

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