The present investigation aimed to study digestibility of nutrient at the terminal ileum and the total tract, and the impact on microbial composition at the two sites. Four experimental diets based on wheat with increasing amounts of dried chicory root (0, 8.6, 17.2 or 25.8%) were formulated. The diets were fed to four pigs fitted with a T-canula at the terminal ileum according to a Latin square design. The digestibility of nutrients, except non-starch polysaccharides, was not affected by the experimental diets at the terminal ileum. The concentration of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactic acid in ileal digesta was unaltered. The digestibility of organic matter and energy in faeces was not affected by the amount of fructan in the diets but the digestibility of protein decreased with increasing content of fructan and surprisingly the digestibility of fat increased. The concentration of SCFA in faeces was unaffected by the dietary composition and it was only the molar proportion of the iso-acids that was influenced by diet. The proportion of iso-acids decreased with increasing amount of fructan in the diets. The composition of the microflora in ileal digesta and faeces was not influenced by the diets as shown by T-RFLP. In conclusion, diets containing high amount of fructan only induced minor changes in nutrient digestibility whereas no alterations of the composition of microflora could be detected. This indicates that growing pigs are well adapted for consumption of high amounts of fructan.

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