HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lindemann, M. D. Articles by Pettigrew, J. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lindemann, M. D. Articles by Pettigrew, J. E.

Effect of Age, Weaning and Diet on Digestive Enzyme Levels in the Piglet^1,2,

University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108

Abstract

Thirty-seven pigs were used to evaluate the effects of age and weaning on the level of protease in the gastric mucosa and trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase in the pancreas. There was a positive allometry of the pancreas and gastric mucosa associated with age and with weaning to a solid diet. Increases with age in total activity of chymotrypsin, trypsin, amylase and gastric proteases were due to increases in both tissue weight and enzyme activity per gram of tissue. A general depression in pancreatic enzymatic activities, but not in gastric proteolytic activity, was found during the first week following weaning. Forty pigs were used in a second trial to evaluate the effects of age and weaning diet on the same digestive enzymes. Total activity of all enzymes assayed increased with time postweaning. Increases in total activity of lipase and chymotrypsin were due primarily to increased pancreatic weight postweaning. Amylase, trypsin and gastric protease increases were due both to increased tissue weight and increased activity per gram of tissue. There were no effects of diet on the weight of gastric mucosa or the level of activity of the gastric proteases. Pigs fed a diet containing 20% whey had larger pancreases (P<.10) at slaughter and a greater, but nonsignificant, mean activity per gram of pancreas for all pancreatic enzymes. It appears that the pig has sufficient pancreatic and gastric enzyme activity so that performance should not be limited, with the possible exception of the period shortly after weaning. However diet digestibility and subsequent pig performance may be more directly related to the extent of release of these enzymes into the intestine and the conditions that exist therein.

¹ Paper No. 14468. Scientific Journal Series, Minnesota Agr. Exp. Sta., St. Paul 55108.

² Data analysis was supported in part by a grant from the Univ. Computer Center, Minneapolis, MN 55455.

³ Present address: Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Tidewater Res. Center, Suffolk 23437.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Ji, D. P. Casper, P. K. Brown, D. A. Spangler, K. D. Haydon, and J. E. Pettigrew Effects of dietary supplementation of an enzyme blend on the ileal and fecal digestibility of nutrients in growing pigs J Anim Sci, July 1, 2008; 86(7): 1533 - 1543. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. A. Olukosi, J. S. Sands, and O. Adeola Supplementation of carbohydrases or phytase individually or in combination to diets for weanling and growing-finishing pigs J Anim Sci, July 1, 2007; 85(7): 1702 - 1711. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Awati, B. A. Williams, M. W. Bosch, W. J. J. Gerrits, and M. W. A. Verstegen Effect of inclusion of fermentable carbohydrates in the diet on fermentation end-product profile in feces of weanling piglets J Anim Sci, August 1, 2006; 84(8): 2133 - 2140. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Adeola and D. E. King Developmental changes in morphometry of the small intestine and jejunal sucrase activity during the first nine weeks of postnatal growth in pigs J Anim Sci, January 1, 2006; 84(1): 112 - 118. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]