| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901-1071
2 Correspondence:
313 Lenox Court, Springfield, TN 37172 (phone: 615-382-8297; fax: 615-384-1076; E-mail:
mfranklin{at}lallemand.com).
In a series of five 17-d replicate trials, a total of 54 cannulated and 12 noncannulated pigs were used to determine the effects of weaning age (17 d or 24 d) on pH, dry matter percentage, aerobic and anaerobic microflora, lactate, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in the jejunum, ileum, and cecum of weanling pigs. At ~14 d of age, cannulated pigs were surgically fitted with T-cannulas in the jejunum (n = 20), ileum (n = 18), or cecum (n = 16). Upon weaning, cannulated pigs were individually caged in an environmentally controlled room with ad libitum access to a phase starter diet and water. Noncannulated pigs were killed at weaning and samples were collected from the jejunum, ileum, and cecum. Digesta and fecal swabs from cannulated pigs were collected twice weekly. The pH of cecal contents was lower (P < 0.05) and dry matter percentage was greater (P < 0.05) than those of jejunal or ileal contents. Pigs weaned at 24 d of age had increased (P < 0.05) E. coli populations 3 d postweaning compared to preweaning populations, regardless of site of collection, whereas this increase was not observed in pigs weaned at 17 d of age. Unweaned pigs maintained higher (P < 0.05) lactobacilli populations compared to weaned pigs; however, populations declined (P < 0.05) in both groups by 3 d postweaning, with pigs weaned at 24 d of age having lactobacilli populations greater than pigs weaned at 17 d of age. Fecal populations of E. coli and lactobacilli declined (P < 0.05), whereas fecal bifidobacteria populations increased (P < 0.05) postweaning, regardless of weaning age. Concentrations of total fecal anaerobes declined (P < 0.05) in pigs weaned at 17 d of age but were maintained in pigs weaned at 24 d of age. Volatile fatty acid concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in the cecum than in the jejunum or ileum, and acetic acid concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) postweaning regardless of weaning age. A tendency for L+ lactate concentrations to be greater (P < 0.07) in the ileum and jejunum vs the cecum was observed. Results indicate that weaning and weaning age have significant effects on microbial populations and VFA concentrations.
Key Words: Cecum • Ileum • Intestinal Microorganisms • Jejunum • Pigs • Weaning
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. K. Htoo, B. A. Araiza, W. C. Sauer, M. Rademacher, Y. Zhang, M. Cervantes, and R. T. Zijlstra Effect of dietary protein content on ileal amino acid digestibility, growth performance, and formation of microbial metabolites in ileal and cecal digesta of early-weaned pigs J Anim Sci, December 1, 2007; 85(12): 3303 - 3312. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. L. Conn, E. Topp, and G. Lazarovits Factors Influencing the Concentration of Volatile Fatty Acids, Ammonia, and Other Nutrients in Stored Liquid Pig Manure J. Environ. Qual., January 25, 2007; 36(2): 440 - 447. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. M. Nyachoti, F. O. Omogbenigun, M. Rademacher, and G. Blank Performance responses and indicators of gastrointestinal health in early-weaned pigs fed low-protein amino acid-supplemented diets J Anim Sci, January 1, 2006; 84(1): 125 - 134. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
