title: Chromic oxide and acid-insoluble ash as markers in digestibility studies with growing pigs and sows.
abstract: The results of three experiments, focused on the determination of endogenous ileal flow (EIF) of amino acids (AA) and nitrogen (N) (Exp. 1), apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of AA and N (Exp. 2), and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), N, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) (Exps. 2 and 3), were used to compare chromic oxide (Cr2O3) and acid-insoluble ash (AIA) as digestibility markers. In Exps. 1 and 2, a total of six gilts fitted with T-cannula in terminal ileum, and in Exp. 3, a total of 24 pregnant sows were used. In Exps. 1 and 2, the pigs were assigned into four dietary treatments according to 4 × 6 crossover design (Exp. 1; diets with 0%, 4%, 8% and 12% of casein; Exp. 2 basal diet with different levels of phytase). In Exp. 3, the sows were assigned to four dietary treatments (basal diet with different levels of phytase) of six sows. In Exps. 1 and 2 ileal digesta and in Exps. 2 and 3 faeces were collected for the determination of EIF, AID and ATTD. Differences in EIF of AA determined by Cr2O3and AIA ranged (p ˃ 0.05) from -4.62 to 4.54%. The lowest EIF was for methionine and the greatest one for proline, determined by both markers. Apparent ileal digestibility determined by Cr2O3was slightly greater (p ˃ 0.05) in comparison with AIA. Differences ranged from 1.88% (Arg) to 7.08% (Gly). The greatest AID was for arginine and the lowest one for glycine, determined by both Cr2O3and AIA. Similarly for ATTD of DM, OM, N, Ca and P, there were no differences in digestibility determined by Cr2O3and AIA. Both, Cr2O3and AIA, are suitable and comparable markers for digestibility studies in pigs.
authors.affiliation: National Agricultural and Food Center, Research Institute of Animal Production Nitra, Institute of Nutrition, Lužianky, Slovakia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brestenský
authors.affiliation: National Agricultural and Food Center, Research Institute of Animal Production Nitra, Institute of Nutrition, Lužianky, Slovakia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nitrayová
authors.affiliation: National Agricultural and Food Center, Research Institute of Animal Production Nitra, Institute of Nutrition, Lužianky, Slovakia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heger
authors.affiliation: National Agricultural and Food Center, Research Institute of Animal Production Nitra, Institute of Nutrition, Lužianky, Slovakia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patráš
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D017608:Chromium Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000502:physiology*; D007082:Ileum / Q000502:physiology; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; D017608:Chromium Compounds; D009584:Nitrogen; C023600:chromic oxide
keywords: acid-insoluble ash; chromic oxide; digestibility; pig