Fiber source and inclusion level affects characteristics of excreta from growing pigs

Objective The objective of the study was to determine the influence of varying fibrous diets on fecal characteristics of growing pigs. Methods A total of 104 pigs (initial weight 18±2.0 kg) were used in the study. They were housed in individual pens and fed on diets containing maize cob, grass hay,...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Conference Thando Mpendulo, Michael Chimonyo, Saymore Petros Ndou, Archibold Garikayi Bakare
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies 2018-05-01
Series:Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ajas.info/upload/pdf/ajas-31-5-755.pdf
_version_ 1819169348734943232
author Conference Thando Mpendulo
Michael Chimonyo
Saymore Petros Ndou
Archibold Garikayi Bakare
author_facet Conference Thando Mpendulo
Michael Chimonyo
Saymore Petros Ndou
Archibold Garikayi Bakare
author_sort Conference Thando Mpendulo
collection DOAJ
description Objective The objective of the study was to determine the influence of varying fibrous diets on fecal characteristics of growing pigs. Methods A total of 104 pigs (initial weight 18±2.0 kg) were used in the study. They were housed in individual pens and fed on diets containing maize cob, grass hay, lucerne hay, maize stover, and sunflower husk. These fibers were included at 0, 80, 160, 240, 320 and 400 g/kg. Fecal and urine samples were collected. Results Fecal output was largest amongst pigs fed on diets containing grass hay and maize stover (p<0.05). Nitrogen content was highest in feces from pigs fed on sunflower husk (p< 0.05). Pigs fed on diets containing maize stover and maize cobs produced the largest concentrations of short chain fatty acids. Acetate concentration was high in feces of pigs fed maize stover than those fed grass hay and lucerne hay (p<0.05). As the level of fiber inclusion increased, fecal consistency and nitrogen content increased linearly (p<0.05). Urea nitrogen decreased as the inclusion level increased across all the fibers (p<0.05), with maize cobs containing the largest content of urea nitrogen. As dietary fiber content increased, fecal nitrogen content also increased (p<0.05). Conclusion It was concluded that different fiber sources influence fecal characteristics, thereby having different implications on pig waste management. It is vital to monitor fiber inclusion thresholds so as to easily manage environmental pollutants such as butyrate that contribute to odors.
first_indexed 2024-12-22T19:18:05Z
format Article
id doaj.art-fc7ae83519ee4a53b682a59c05da888f
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1011-2367
1976-5517
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-22T19:18:05Z
publishDate 2018-05-01
publisher Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies
record_format Article
series Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
spelling doaj.art-fc7ae83519ee4a53b682a59c05da888f2022-12-21T18:15:27ZengAsian-Australasian Association of Animal Production SocietiesAsian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences1011-23671976-55172018-05-0131575576210.5713/ajas.14.061123136Fiber source and inclusion level affects characteristics of excreta from growing pigsConference Thando Mpendulo0Michael Chimonyo1Saymore Petros Ndou2Archibold Garikayi Bakare3 Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville 3209, South Africa Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville 3209, South Africa Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville 3209, South Africa Animal and Poultry Science, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville 3209, South AfricaObjective The objective of the study was to determine the influence of varying fibrous diets on fecal characteristics of growing pigs. Methods A total of 104 pigs (initial weight 18±2.0 kg) were used in the study. They were housed in individual pens and fed on diets containing maize cob, grass hay, lucerne hay, maize stover, and sunflower husk. These fibers were included at 0, 80, 160, 240, 320 and 400 g/kg. Fecal and urine samples were collected. Results Fecal output was largest amongst pigs fed on diets containing grass hay and maize stover (p<0.05). Nitrogen content was highest in feces from pigs fed on sunflower husk (p< 0.05). Pigs fed on diets containing maize stover and maize cobs produced the largest concentrations of short chain fatty acids. Acetate concentration was high in feces of pigs fed maize stover than those fed grass hay and lucerne hay (p<0.05). As the level of fiber inclusion increased, fecal consistency and nitrogen content increased linearly (p<0.05). Urea nitrogen decreased as the inclusion level increased across all the fibers (p<0.05), with maize cobs containing the largest content of urea nitrogen. As dietary fiber content increased, fecal nitrogen content also increased (p<0.05). Conclusion It was concluded that different fiber sources influence fecal characteristics, thereby having different implications on pig waste management. It is vital to monitor fiber inclusion thresholds so as to easily manage environmental pollutants such as butyrate that contribute to odors.http://www.ajas.info/upload/pdf/ajas-31-5-755.pdfDietary FiberPig ExcretaFecal Nitrogen
spellingShingle Conference Thando Mpendulo
Michael Chimonyo
Saymore Petros Ndou
Archibold Garikayi Bakare
Fiber source and inclusion level affects characteristics of excreta from growing pigs
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
Dietary Fiber
Pig Excreta
Fecal Nitrogen
title Fiber source and inclusion level affects characteristics of excreta from growing pigs
title_full Fiber source and inclusion level affects characteristics of excreta from growing pigs
title_fullStr Fiber source and inclusion level affects characteristics of excreta from growing pigs
title_full_unstemmed Fiber source and inclusion level affects characteristics of excreta from growing pigs
title_short Fiber source and inclusion level affects characteristics of excreta from growing pigs
title_sort fiber source and inclusion level affects characteristics of excreta from growing pigs
topic Dietary Fiber
Pig Excreta
Fecal Nitrogen
url http://www.ajas.info/upload/pdf/ajas-31-5-755.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT conferencethandompendulo fibersourceandinclusionlevelaffectscharacteristicsofexcretafromgrowingpigs
AT michaelchimonyo fibersourceandinclusionlevelaffectscharacteristicsofexcretafromgrowingpigs
AT saymorepetrosndou fibersourceandinclusionlevelaffectscharacteristicsofexcretafromgrowingpigs
AT archiboldgarikayibakare fibersourceandinclusionlevelaffectscharacteristicsofexcretafromgrowingpigs