The role of dietary fibre in pig production, with a particular emphasis on reproduction

Abstract Fibres from a variety of sources are a common constituent of pig feeds. They provide a means to utilise locally-produced plant materials which are often a by-product of the food or drink industry. The value of a high fibre diet in terms of producing satiety has long been recognised. However...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Selene Jarrett, Cheryl J. Ashworth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-08-01
Series:Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40104-018-0270-0
_version_ 1818351105141112832
author Selene Jarrett
Cheryl J. Ashworth
author_facet Selene Jarrett
Cheryl J. Ashworth
author_sort Selene Jarrett
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Fibres from a variety of sources are a common constituent of pig feeds. They provide a means to utilise locally-produced plant materials which are often a by-product of the food or drink industry. The value of a high fibre diet in terms of producing satiety has long been recognised. However the addition of fibre can reduce feed intake, which is clearly detrimental during stages of the production cycle when nutrient needs are high, for example in growing piglets and during lactation. More recently, fibre has been found to promote novel benefits to pig production systems, particularly given the reduction in antimicrobial use world-wide, concern for the welfare of animals fed a restricted diet and the need to ensure that such systems are more environmentally friendly. For example, inclusion of dietary fibre can alter the gut microbiota in ways that could reduce the need for antibiotics, while controlled addition of certain fibre types may reduce nitrogen losses into the environment and so reduce the environmental cost of pig production. Of particular potential value is the opportunity to use crude fibre concentrates as ‘functional’ feed additives to improve young pig growth and welfare. Perhaps the greatest opportunity for the use of high fibre diets is to improve the reproductive efficiency of pigs. Increased dietary fibre before mating improves oocyte maturation, prenatal survival and litter size; providing a consumer-acceptable means of increasing the amount of saleable meat produced per sow. The mechanisms responsible for these beneficial effects remain to be elucidated. However, changes in plasma and follicular fluid concentrations of key hormones and metabolites, as well as effects of the hypothalamic satiety centre on gonadotrophin secretion and epigenetic effects are strong candidates.
first_indexed 2024-12-13T18:32:27Z
format Article
id doaj.art-75ffcce1429f4abe92f9c4022039db84
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2049-1891
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-13T18:32:27Z
publishDate 2018-08-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology
spelling doaj.art-75ffcce1429f4abe92f9c4022039db842022-12-21T23:35:26ZengBMCJournal of Animal Science and Biotechnology2049-18912018-08-019111110.1186/s40104-018-0270-0The role of dietary fibre in pig production, with a particular emphasis on reproductionSelene Jarrett0Cheryl J. Ashworth1The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of EdinburghThe Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of EdinburghAbstract Fibres from a variety of sources are a common constituent of pig feeds. They provide a means to utilise locally-produced plant materials which are often a by-product of the food or drink industry. The value of a high fibre diet in terms of producing satiety has long been recognised. However the addition of fibre can reduce feed intake, which is clearly detrimental during stages of the production cycle when nutrient needs are high, for example in growing piglets and during lactation. More recently, fibre has been found to promote novel benefits to pig production systems, particularly given the reduction in antimicrobial use world-wide, concern for the welfare of animals fed a restricted diet and the need to ensure that such systems are more environmentally friendly. For example, inclusion of dietary fibre can alter the gut microbiota in ways that could reduce the need for antibiotics, while controlled addition of certain fibre types may reduce nitrogen losses into the environment and so reduce the environmental cost of pig production. Of particular potential value is the opportunity to use crude fibre concentrates as ‘functional’ feed additives to improve young pig growth and welfare. Perhaps the greatest opportunity for the use of high fibre diets is to improve the reproductive efficiency of pigs. Increased dietary fibre before mating improves oocyte maturation, prenatal survival and litter size; providing a consumer-acceptable means of increasing the amount of saleable meat produced per sow. The mechanisms responsible for these beneficial effects remain to be elucidated. However, changes in plasma and follicular fluid concentrations of key hormones and metabolites, as well as effects of the hypothalamic satiety centre on gonadotrophin secretion and epigenetic effects are strong candidates.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40104-018-0270-0FibrePigPregnancyProductionReproduction
spellingShingle Selene Jarrett
Cheryl J. Ashworth
The role of dietary fibre in pig production, with a particular emphasis on reproduction
Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology
Fibre
Pig
Pregnancy
Production
Reproduction
title The role of dietary fibre in pig production, with a particular emphasis on reproduction
title_full The role of dietary fibre in pig production, with a particular emphasis on reproduction
title_fullStr The role of dietary fibre in pig production, with a particular emphasis on reproduction
title_full_unstemmed The role of dietary fibre in pig production, with a particular emphasis on reproduction
title_short The role of dietary fibre in pig production, with a particular emphasis on reproduction
title_sort role of dietary fibre in pig production with a particular emphasis on reproduction
topic Fibre
Pig
Pregnancy
Production
Reproduction
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40104-018-0270-0
work_keys_str_mv AT selenejarrett theroleofdietaryfibreinpigproductionwithaparticularemphasisonreproduction
AT cheryljashworth theroleofdietaryfibreinpigproductionwithaparticularemphasisonreproduction
AT selenejarrett roleofdietaryfibreinpigproductionwithaparticularemphasisonreproduction
AT cheryljashworth roleofdietaryfibreinpigproductionwithaparticularemphasisonreproduction