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Effects of Dietary Cellulose Levels on Intact and Cecectomized Pigs¹

Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames 50011²

Abstract

Twelve crossbred castrated male pigs (30 kg) were used to determine the effects of three dietary levels of Solka-floc (2, 10 and 18%) and cecectomy on plasma urea N (PUN), plasma cholesterol and apparent dry matter, cellulose and N digestibilities. There were no significant differences between intact and cecectomized pigs in any of the characteristics measured, except N digestibility (73.4 vs 75.6%, P<.05). PUN was not affected by dietary cellulose, but it increased (P<.05) throughout the 40-day experiment. The increase in dietary cellulose level decreased plasma cholesterol concentration (P<.05), dry matter (P<.01), N (P<.01) and cellulose (P<.05) digestibilities. All digestibility coefficients increased (P<.01) faster than expected from the age change, indicating a progressive adaptation of pigs to cellulose. Pigs had a maximum cellulose digestion capacity of about 130 g/100 kg body weight/day. No interactions were found between cellulose level and cecectomy. The results indicate that the absence of a cecum in pigs does not significantly alter digestive functions.

¹ Journal Paper No. J-9890 of the Iowa Agr. and Home Economics Exp. Sta., Ames. Project No. 2357.

² Dept. of Anim. Sci.