title: Effect of dietary protein source on feed intake, growth, pancreatic enzyme activities and jejunal morphology in newly-weaned piglets.
abstract: Seventy piglets with no access to creep feed were weaned at 28 d of age and fed on one of four diets based on either skimmed-milk powder (SMP), soya-bean-protein concentrate (SPC), soya-bean meal (SBM) or fish meal (FM). At 0, 3, 6 and 10 d after weaning, piglets were killed and the pancreas and digesta from stomach and small intestine were collected, freeze-dried and analysed for dry matter (DM), N, and trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4) and chymotrypsin (EC 3.4.21.1) activities. Small-intestinal tissue samples were taken to examine gut wall morphology. Results indicated that dietary protein source affected post-weaning feed intake, pancreatic weight, gastric pH and gastric protein breakdown, and pancreatic and jejunal trypsin and chymotrypsin activities. Post-weaning feed intake appeared to be an important factor in digestive development of newly-weaned piglets.
authors.affiliation: Agricultural University, Department of Animal Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Makkink
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Negulescu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Verstegen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007583:Jejunum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009929:Organ Size; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology*; D013552:Swine / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014357:Trypsin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D014357:Trypsin