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The effect of lactose and inulin on intestinal morphology, selected microbial populations and volatile fatty acid concentrations in the gastro-intestinal tract of the weanling pig

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

K. M. Pierce ,
T. Sweeney ,
P. O. Brophy ,
J. J. Callan ,
E. Fitzpatrick ,
P. McCarthy  and
J. V. O'Doherty
K. M. Pierce
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
T. Sweeney
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
P. O. Brophy
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
J. J. Callan
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
E. Fitzpatrick
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
P. McCarthy
Affiliation:
Volac Feed Ltd, Volac House, Church Street, Killeshandra, Co. Cavan, Ireland
J. V. O'Doherty*
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Life Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
*
†Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Twenty piglets (21 days, 7·8 kg live weight (LW)) were used in a 2×2 factorial to investigate interactions between lactose and inulin on intestinal morphology, microbiology and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production of the weanling pig. The piglets were offered the following diets for 6 days and then sacrificed: (T1) 150 g/kg lactose, (T2) 150 g/kg lactose +15 g/kg inulin, ( T3) 330 g/kg lactose, and ( T4) 330 g/kg lactose +15 g/kg inulin. Tissue samples were taken from the duodenum, jejunum and ileum for morphological measurements. Digesta samples were taken from the ileum, caecum and colon. There was an interaction ( P<0·05) between lactose and inulin in villous height in the jejunum. The inclusion of inulin at 150 g/kg lactose increased villous height compared with 150 g/kg lactose without inulin. However, inulin had no effect on villous height at 330 g/kg lactose inclusion. There was a linear relationship between food intake and villous height in the duodenum ( P<0·001, R2 =0·45) and the jejunum ( P< 0·01, R2 =0·25). The inclusion of 330 g/kg lactose increased ( P<0·05) total VFA compared with 150 g/kg lactose in the caecum and the population of lactobacilli in the caecum and colon ( P<0·1). There was an interaction ( P<0·05) between lactose and inulin for total VFA concentration in the colon. The pigs receiving 330 g/kg lactose had a higher total VFA concentration compared with pigs on 150 g/kg lactose. However, there was no difference between 150 g/kg and 330 g/kg lactose when the diets were supplemented with inulin. In conclusion, the inclusion of high dietary concentrations of lactose resulted in increased lactobacilli and short-chain fatty acid concentrations. The inclusion of inulin with low dietary concentrations of lactose resulted in improved intestinal health through a reduction of intestinal pH and increases in villous height.

Keywords

intestinal morphologyinulinlactosepigs
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 82 , Issue 3 , June 2006 , pp. 311 - 318
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2006

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