title: Effect of fumaric acid and dietary buffering capacity on ileal and fecal amino acid digestibilities in early-weaned pigs.
abstract: Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of fumaric acid supplementation and buffering capacity of the diet on ileal and fecal digestibilities of CP, GE, and amino acids in early-weaned pigs. In two experiments, 12 pigs each were weaned at 14 d of age and fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum between 15 and 17 d of age. In both experiments, the pigs were fed four diets, based on wheat and soybean meal without (control) or with 1, 2, or 3% fumaric acid according to a balanced two-period change-over design. In Exp. 2, the buffering capacity of the diets was increased by supplementation of 3% sodium bicarbonate. The pigs were fed three times daily: equal amounts at 8-h intervals. The diets were supplied at a rate of 5% (wt/wt) of body weight. The inclusion of fumaric acid to the diet with a low buffering capacity increased (P < .05) the ileal digestibilities of CP, GE, and the majority of amino acids. The highest responses were found at an inclusion level of 2% fumaric acid. The improvements in apparent ileal amino acid digestibilities ranged from 4.9 to 12.8 percentage units. Supplementation of fumaric acid to a diet with a high buffering capacity led only to numerical increases in ileal digestibilities of CP, GE, and amino acids. In both studies, fumaric acid supplementation had no effect (P > .05) on the fecal digestibilities of CP, GE, and amino acids, except histidine. A high buffering capacity of the diet decreased the ileal amino acid digestibilities by 1 to 10 percentage units compared with diets with the low buffering capacities. In both experiments, ileal and fecal digestibilities were higher (P < .05) in Period 2 (on d 24 after weaning) than in Period 1 (on d 11 after weaning). A positive correlation (P < .05) between ileal digestibilities and fumaric acid supplementation to the diets with the low buffering capacities was observed in Period 1 (on d 11 after weaning), but not in Period 2 (on d 24 after weaning). No relationship (P > .05) between ileal digestibilities and fumaric acid supplementation to the diets with a high buffering capacity could be established. In conclusion, supplementation of fumaric acid to starter diets during the first 3 to 4 wk after weaning increases the ileal digestibilities of GE, CP, and amino acids.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blank
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mosenthin
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002021:Buffers; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004063:Digestion; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005650:Fumarates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007082:Ileum / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002021:Buffers; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005650:Fumarates; C032005:fumaric acid