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Dietary Fiber and Antibiotic Interactions on Nutritional and Metabolic Parameters in the Growing Pig

University of Illinois, Urbana 61801¹

Abstract

Two experiments with 2 x 2 factorial arrangements of treatments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary fiber (Alpha-cel) and antibiotic (Aureo-SP 250) on performance, nutrient digestibilities, N balance and resting metabolic rate in weanling pigs. In trial 1, average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADF) were increased (P<.05) by antibiotic addition. Similar trends were noted in trial 2, with feed efficiency (G/F) improved by antibiotic and fiber additions. Cellulose and energy digestibilities were depressed (P<.05 and P<.01, respectively) by dietary fiber. The addition of fiber and fiber-antibiotic to diets decreased (P<.01) urinary N, while N retention was increased (P<.05) by fiber additions alone. The fiber x antibiotic interaction caused a depression (P<.05) in metabolic rate. Because enhanced growth, and possibly feed utilization, with fiber-antibiotic diets cannot be explained by increased digestibilities or increased N balance, the most likely mode of action is through enhanced energy utilization mediated by intestinal microbes.

¹ Dept. of Anim. Sci., 126 Animal Sciences Lab.