Economically, supplementing or substituting alternative non-conventional feed ingredients to conventional feed ingredients in pig rations may be attractive, but feed utilization and voluntary feed intake may be compromised due to non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) fractions. These are not digestible and may harm overall digestion. To reduce these negative impacts, NSP must be more understood. NSP fractions (soluble guar gum (SOL) and insoluble cellulose (INSOL)) were studied on retention time, digesta passage rate and voluntary feed intake in grower pigs. Retention time increased in the total tract while digesta flow rate was decreased and viscosity increased for the SOL+INSOL group. They also had lower daily weight gain and voluntary feed intake. This may be due to fibre fractions slowing the flow rate of digesta which indicates reducing the negative effects of insoluble and soluble NSP may enhance performance and feed intake in grower pigs.
Soluble and Insoluble Non-Starch Polysaccharides on Digesta Passage Rate and Voluntary Feed Intake of Grower Pigs (full article)
