Particle size of straw and gelation of pectin influence gastric mixing and emptying in pigs.

Physicochemical properties of fibres can strongly impact gastric processes such as emptying and sieving. This study evaluated the influence of particle size of insoluble fibres, and gelation of soluble fibres when added to insoluble fibres, on gastric emptying of digesta phases from the proximal and distal stomach of pigs. Twenty-four boars (51.

Potential New Methods to Analyze Basal and Total Endogenous Protein Losses of Host and Bacterial Origin in Pigs.

Background: Current systems for assessing protein quality such as the Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score correct apparent amino acid (AA) digestibility for basal endogenous protein losses (bEPL), ignoring the potential influence of the diet on these losses. However, the quantification of total endogenous protein losses (tEPL) poses a challenge.

Objectives: To evaluate different methods for quantifying tEPL and bEPL, and to assess their potential in discriminating between tEPL originating from bacteria and host.

Pigs Can Detect Multiple Amino Acid Deficiencies in a Choice Feeding Setting.

Background: It is unknown whether pigs can detect deficiencies in multiple amino acids (AA) and consequently change their feed choice.

Objectives: We investigated whether pigs compensate for a diet deficient in three AA (Thr, Trp, and Val) by selecting multiple diets and whether this compensation is affected by the supplemented AA concentration.

Methods: Pair-housed 5-wk-old pigs (n = 96) were exposed to one of four treatments: 1) AA-adequate: offered a low-protein (LP) diet adequate in AA for growth (LP); 2) AA-deficient: offered LP diet deficient in Thr, Trp, and Val by 20% (LP); 3) Two-choice between LP and LP; and 4) Four-choice between LP and three diets supplemented with Thr, Trp, Val at +40% (n = 12 pens/treatment) from d0 to d21 (phase 1).

Incremental supply of fat, lactose, or protein influences the diurnal pattern of heat production and substrate oxidation in preweaning calves.

Increasing nutrient supply to dairy calves has well known benefits; however, the effects of milk replacer (MR) composition when supplied in higher amounts are not fully understood, particularly in the first weeks of life. To better understand the metabolism of macronutrient supply in young calves (21 d old), we investigated diurnal patterns of heat production and substrate oxidation in young calves fed MR with an incremental supply of fat, lactose, or protein. Thirty-two groups of 3 mixed-sex Holstein-Friesian newborn calves (3.