Nutritional and environmental consequences of dietary fibre in pig nutrition: a review

Posted in: Environment by admin on January 1, 2007 | No Comments

The second half of the XXth century has seen a sharp increase of the world pork (Sus scrofa) production, which reaches nowadays a herd of 964 million pigs (FAO, 2006). Intensification of the rearing techniques, breeding programs and genetic progresses has resulted in lower production costs. However, intensive production systems have caused nitrate leaching and phosphorus accumulation in the soils receiving pig manure. These systems also induced animal welfare concerns such as stereotypies in gestating sows and human health problems such as the development of a gut microflora resistant to antibiotics (Manero et al., 2006). All these issues seriously question the social and environmental sustainability of intensive pig production (Basset-Mens et al., 2005). During the last 15 years, different solutions have been proposed to cope with these problems. Efforts have been spent to formulate diets that better meet the pig’s requirements or contribute to reduce odour and pollutant excretion. In particular, attention is paid to dietary fibre (DF), for its capacity to reduce ammonia emission (Nahm, 2003; Aarnink et al., 2007) and to improve gut health (Williams et al., 2001; Montagne et al., 2003) and pig welfare (Meunier-Salaun, 1999; Courboulay et al., 2001).
Increasing fibrous ingredients provided by the food industry are now incorporated in rations for pigs, despite the negative impact of DF on performances due to lower digestibility of dietary energy and protein (Noblet et al., 2001) and fatter carcasses. The use of forages, rich in DF, is also envisaged in more extensive systems such as herbage in outdoor production systems (Rivera Ferre et al., 2001; Blair, 2007) or in tropical countries where alternative feeding systems are studied, developed and extended (Pérez, 1997; Leterme et al., 2007) because grains are needed for human consumption. The present review examines the influence of DF fermentation in the pig intestines on the digestive processes. Their consequences on pig protein and energy nutrition, health concerns and environmental issues in intensified and in more extensive tropical production systems are also discussed. Dietary fibre is defined as the plant polysaccharides that are resistant to digestive secretions and are potentially available for bacterial fermentation in the intestines of single-stomached animals. Resistant starch is also considered as a dietary fibre. The short-chain fatty acids released by bacteria contribute to the host energy supply and both regulate the composition of the flora and the growth of epithelial cells, especially in the case of butyrate. The bacterial growth supported by the fermentation induces a shift of N excretion from urine to faeces. Beside the fermentability, the physical properties of dietary fibre such as the water-holding capacity, the viscosity and the solubility influence the digestion, the satiety and the transit time. In relationship with the mechanisms of dietary fibre interaction with the digestive processes exposed in this review, the opportunities and treats of dietary fibre inclusion in swine rations for intensified and for more extensive tropical production systems are discussed. Dietary fibre is indeed a possible means to reduce nitrogen losses of production units and to improve pig intestinal health and animal welfare. Finally, the potential role of in vitro fermentation methods to investigate the fate of dietary fibre in the digestive system is discussed.

Nutrition, key factor to reduce environmental load from pig production

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Gaseous Emissions (NH3, N2O, CH4 and CO2) from the aerobic treatment of piggery slurry—Comparison with a conventional storage system

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Gaseous emissions from biological aerobic treatment (using an intermittent aeration) were
compared with traditional manure management (based on 6 months storage before
spreading). The results show a large decrease
of the greenhouse gases (methane and nitrous oxide) and ammonia (NH3) when a biological
treatment is compared to using storage alone.

Supplementing corn or corn–barley diets with an E. coli derived phytase decreases total and soluble P output by weanling and growing pigs

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The efficacy of an E. coli derived phytase on phosphorus (P) digestibility and excretion, on the form of the P excreted, and the optimal dietary calcium (Ca):P ratio was examined.
In experiment 1, 63 barrows (40.4 ± 1.9 kg) were assigned to receive one of 21 treatments arranged as a 3 × 7 factorial. Treatments consisted of three Ca levels (0.50, 0.60 and 0.70%) and seven phytase treatments [0, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 FTU kg–1 of an E. coli-derived phytase and 500 FTU kg 1 of an A. niger phytase added to a P deficient (0.37% P) diet or 0 FTU phytase kg–1 added to a P adequate (0.53% P) diet].
In experiment 2, 144 pigs (6.52 ± 0.75 kg), received a P adequate (0.60% P) diet or a P deficient (0.44% P) diet supplemented with 0, 250, 500, 1000 or 2000 FTU phytase kg–1 for a 28-d trial. A subset of 36 barrows was then fed the same diets in a balance trial.
In experiment 3, 36 barrows (7.1 ± 0.75 kg) were assigned to one of six treatments arranged as a 2 × 3 factorial (0 or 500 FTU of phytase kg–1; 1.0, 1.6 or 2.2 Ca:P ratio).
In experiment 1, P digestibility improved from 21 to 54% with increasing phytase (quadratic; P < 0.05). Supplementing the diet with 500 FTU phytase kg–1 decreased the output of total and soluble P by 25% in experiment 2 and to a similar extent in experiment 3 at the lowest Ca:P ratio (P < 0.05). The effect of phytase on total P digestibility was mitigated as the dietary Ca:P ratio increased in exp. 3. Supplementation of swine diets with an E. coli derived phytase decreases output of total and soluble forms of P, but this effect is reduced at high dietary Ca:P ratios.

Reducing Energy Costs in Swine Barns

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Swine production involves energy intensive tasks. With increasing energy prices, reducing energy use is imperative to reduce overall cost of production in swine operations. The goals of the current phases of this study are to gather benchmark information on current energy usage in swine barns, to conduct energy audits to document energy use practices in various types of swine barns, and to evaluate different applicable energy-saving measures using computer simulation. Twenty-eight (28) different swine facilities participated in the energy survey conducted in February 2007. From each barn, information was obtained on barn energy use and pig production numbers over the past 3 years. Based on the results of the survey, four barns were selected on which an energy audit and detailed energy use monitoring were conducted. Two of the barns were among the highest energy users (per animal) and the other two were among those that used the least energy per animal. Results of the survey and energy audits showed that within each barn type, some barns used significantly higher energy than the overall mean for all barns of the same type while others used substantially less than the mean, indicating that there are significant opportunities for improving energy use practices in some barns to reduce overall energy costs. Understanding the patterns of how energy is utilized in each barn is valuable in determining energy conservation strategies that would work best for each particular operation. The outcome of this project is expected to help guide pork producers in managing the use of energy in their operations more efficiently, thereby reducing overall energy costs. The next step would be to use computer simulation to evaluate different energy saving measures and to quantify the reduction in energy costs that can be achieved from implementation of these strategies.

ODEURS

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Comment les humains perçoivent-ils les odeurs?
Le sens de l’odorat joue un rôle important dans la sensation de bien être des humains. L’odorat est unique
à chaque humain et varie dans le temps selon la condition physique de l’individu, les conditions
d’émission d’odeur et la mémoire olfactive et le vécu de l’individu. La réponse olfactive est le résultat de
stimuli créés au niveau du bulbe olfactif (situé dans la partie supérieure de la cavité nasale) qui vient en
contact avec des molécules d’odeur. Des signaux sont envoyés au centre olfactif du cerveau par des
fibres nerveuses où une impression d’odeur est créée et comparée avec celles déjà emmagasinées dans la
mémoire olfactive personnelle qui est elle constituée de perceptions individuelles et de valeurs sociales
(Berglung et al. 1988). Comme l’odeur a un caractère très personnel, certaines personnes ont un bon nez
(très sensible) et certaines autres ont un mauvais nez (moins sensible ou insensible) (Hermia, 1997).
Berglund et al. (1988) mentionne aussi que l’odorat est très utile car il considère ou évalue l’odeur comme
un tout même si celle -ci est composée de plusieurs mélanges de gaz complexes plutôt que d’analyser les
différents composés chimiques séparément.
Quelles peuvent être les réactions humaines possibles aux mauvaises odeurs?
Les réactions aux odeurs reliées à la production porcine peuvent apparaître très subjectives pour certaines
personnes et elles sont susceptibles d’être différentes d’une communauté à une autre. Une anecdote
populaire en Iowa porte sur une personne résidant à proximité d’un bâtiment d’élevage porcin vide et qui
se plaignait des mauvaises odeurs qui, selon elle, en émanaient. Toujours en Iowa, on rapporte le calvaire
subi par une famille agricole aux prises avec les odeurs qui proviennent d’un élevage porcin situé à
environ un kilomètre de leur ferme (Thu, 1996).
Selon cet auteur, la problématique globale des odeurs associées aux élevages repose généralement sur un
problème plus profond de frustration des personnes affectées. Celles-ci auraient souvent l’impression de
ne pas avoir accès aux canaux de communication qui pourraient permettre la résolution des problèmes
interreliés découlant du développement et de l’intensification de la production porcine. Schiffman et al.
(1995) ont découvert que de tels sentiments de perte de contrôle, par rapport à la problématique des
odeurs par exemple, peuvent constituer un élément déclencheur important dans le développement de
problèmes psychologiques pour les personnes affectées. Les résultats qu’ils ont obtenus à la suite d’une
étude portant sur les effets d’un voisinage rapproché à de grands établissements de production porcine ont
démontré que l’attitude générale des voisins de ces établissements était grandement affectée par les
odeurs qui pouvaient en émaner. Des problèmes accrus de tension, de dépression, de colère,
d’épuisement et de confusion de même qu’une vitalité réduite des personnes ainsi affectées ont été
rapportés par Schiffman et al. (1995).
Les réactions ne sont pas dues à la seule intensité des odeurs; elles dépendent également de la fréquence
d’exposition des personnes, de la durée de ces expositions et du caractère hédonique des odeurs. Il
importe donc de pouvoir quantifier certaines de ces caractéristiques si l’on veut s’attaquer efficacement à
la résolution des problèmes associés aux odeurs (Sweeten, 1997; Nicell et Tsakaloayannis, 1997).

The Transformation of Spain’s Pork Sector: Can It Continue?

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Unless otherwise stated, the term EU refers to the 15 member countries prior to the 2004 enlargement. Also, it is worth pointing out, that in general the pigmeat processing sector in the EU is much less concentrated than in the United States. One notable exception is in Ireland, where the sector is dominated by two firms. The largest exporters of pigmeat in the EU are Denmark and the Netherlands, whereas the largest importers are Germany and Italy. In 2002, pigmeat exports by Denmark and the Netherlands were almost three and two times larger, respectively, than Spain’s pigmeat exports, and pigmeat imports by Italy and Germany were about ten and eight times greater, respectively, than Spain’s pigmeat imports. Spain has achieved enviable success in modernizing and expanding its pork sector, but its producers and processors will need to continue along the path of rapid transformation to remain competitive.

A concrete slatted floor system for separation of faeces and urine in pig houses

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In the experiments, four concrete slatted floors with one of two slat profiles and one of two gap
widths, and a steel wire slatted floor were studied to estimate their manure separation
performance under practical conditions. It was found that a slope gradient of 201 with a surface coated with fine cement performed best and is recommended for the slope bottom design in the concrete slatted floor system.

The effect of pre-weaning housing on the play and agonistic behaviour of domestic pigs

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In intensive pig husbandry, young pigs are typically housed in an extremely barren environment. Such an impoverished environment may have immediate negative effects on pig welfare (De Jonge et al., 1996; O’Connell and Beattie, 1999). It has been demonstrated that piglets in barren environments engage in more manipulative behaviour, such as biting, nosing and massaging of their pen mates compared to piglets in larger pens with straw bedding (Lammers and Schouten, 1985; Beattie et al., 2000; De Jong et al., 1998; O’Connell and Beattie, 1999). Furthermore, poor rearing conditions may disturb the development of important social skills, as it has been shown that piglets housed in such an environment behave more aggressively than pigs housed in an enriched environment (De Jonge et al., 1996; O’Connell and Beattie, 1999). Most of the researchers who have compared the influence of housing systems have focused on the period after weaning or during fattening (Beattie et al., 2000; De Jong et al., 2000; De Jonge et al., 1996; O’Connell et al., 2004; Olsson et al., 1999). Very few researchers have assessed the influence of pre-weaning housing on the behaviour of the piglets. Pre-weaning housing systems may not only affect the aggression that occurs immediately following the mixing of litters at weaning, but also the agonistic behaviour that occurs in the long term. If the social skills necessary for conflict resolution are underdeveloped in piglets from a poor environment, this will probably result in more intense aggression in certain situations, such as competition for food. The aim of this study was to assess whether three housing systems during the suckling period influence three aspects of piglets’ social behaviour: (i) the play behaviour of piglets before weaning, (ii) the agonistic behaviour caused by mixing of litters after weaning and (iii) the food related agonistic behaviour of pigs during the fattening period. Three pre-weaning housing systems were compared: poor crate (standard farrowing crate without straw), enriched crate (crate with straw, 20% larger), and, as a control, a farrowing pen (pen with straw, 60% larger than the poor crate). At the age of 1, 2 and 4 weeks, play behaviour (locomotor and social play) was recorded for 3h. Four weeks postpartum, piglets were weaned and two litters from the same housing system were mixed in a new pen, with the stocking density corresponding to density in the pre-weaning poor crate. During mixing, the frequency of agonistic behaviour and the proportion of abnormally ended fights (chasing and biting to the hindquarters of the opponent) were recorded for 3h, and after 6h, the number of wounds was counted. Four focal pigs from each litter were chosen (two female and two male) and their agonistic interactions were measured during a food competition test at the age of 3 and 6 months. Our results suggest that the enrichment of the pre-weaning environment through straw and enlarged space probably stimulate pre-weaning play behaviour and substantially reduces the tendency of pigs to behave aggressively during food competition later in life. However, aggression during post-weaning mixing of piglets does not seem to be affected by pre-weaning enrichment.

Feed Intake and Weight Loss Before and After Weaning and the Effect on Reproductive Performance

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Feed restriction during late lactation in primiparous sows results in increased catabolism and has traditionally resulted in reduced litter gains, a marginal increase in the weaning-to-estrus interval (WEI), and reduced embryonic survival and development to day 30 of gestation in the subsequent litter. However, in recent studies even these detrimental effects have not been consistently observed. Even when sows are induced to lose large amounts of body weight during late lactation, the resulting WEI and embryonic survival rates are comparable to sows that lose marginal amounts of body weight. An established experimental design was used to study the effect of feed restriction during the last week of lactation in primiparous sows on litter growth, WEI and embryonic growth and development. As an extension of these investigations, the effect of feed restriction during late lactation on feed intake and sow metabolic state between weaning and breeding was also examined. Control (CON) sows were fed their predicted voluntary feed intake from day 15 to day 21 of lactation, restrict (RES) sows were fed 50% of their predicted voluntary feed intake over the same period. As expected, 50% feed restriction between day 15 and day 21 (weaning) of lactation resulted in greater body weight and backfat loss, and compromised litter gains in RES compared to CON sows. However, between weaning and breeding RES sows consumed more feed and gained more weight and backfat depth than CON sows, resulting in no significant differences in weight or backfat depth at breeding. There were no significant effects of treatment on sow reproductive parameters as measured by WEI, ovulation rate, embryo number and survival, or embryo characteristics. It was concluded that under good management practices, acceptable production performance is achievable even in first parity sows that are catabolic after weaning. 93% of sows returned to estrus within 10 days, 100% of sows were bred, and 89% conception rate was achieved. Maximizing feed intake of first parity sows after weaning may negate short-term detrimental effects of lactational catabolism.