title: Finishing pigs that are divergent in feed efficiency show small differences in intestinal functionality and structure.
abstract: Controversial information is available regarding the feed efficiency-related variation in intestinal size, structure and functionality in pigs. The present objective was therefore to investigate the differences in visceral organ size, intestinal morphology, mucosal enzyme activity, intestinal integrity and related gene expression in low and high RFI pigs which were reared at three different geographical locations (Austria, AT; Northern Ireland, NI; Republic of Ireland, ROI) using similar protocols. Pigs (n = 369) were ranked for their RFI between days 42 and 91 postweaning and low and high RFI pigs (n = 16 from AT, n = 24 from NI, and n = 60 from ROI) were selected. Pigs were sacrificed and sampled on ~day 110 of life. In general, RFI-related variation in intestinal size, structure and function was small. Some energy saving mechanisms and enhanced digestive and absorptive capacity were indicated in low versus high RFI pigs by shorter crypts, higher duodenal lactase and maltase activity and greater mucosal permeability (P < 0.05), but differences were mainly seen in pigs from AT and to a lesser degree in pigs from ROI. Additionally, low RFI pigs from AT had more goblet cells in duodenum but fewer in jejunum compared to high RFI pigs (P < 0.05). Together with the lower expression of TLR4 and TNFA in low versus high RFI pigs from AT and ROI (P < 0.05), these results might indicate differences in the innate immune response between low and high RFI pigs. Results demonstrated that the variation in the size of visceral organs and intestinal structure and functionality was greater between geographic location (local environmental factors) than between RFI ranks of pigs. In conclusion, present results support previous findings that the intestinal size, structure and functionality do not significantly contribute to variation in RFI of pigs.
authors.affiliation: University Clinic for Swine, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara U
authors.initials: BU
authors.lastname: Metzler-Zebeli
authors.affiliation: Teagasc Pig Development Department, Animal & Grassland Research & Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Peadar G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Lawlor
authors.affiliation: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Agriculture Branch, Large Park, Co. Down, Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magowan
authors.affiliation: Teagasc Pig Development Department, Animal & Grassland Research & Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland.|Department of Science and Computing, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Co. Waterford, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ursula M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.affiliation: Teagasc Pig Development Department, Animal & Grassland Research & Innovation Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Tânia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Curião
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hollmann
authors.affiliation: VetCore facility for Research, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria; Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ertl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Aschenbach
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Nutrition and Functional Plant Compounds, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Qendrim
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zebeli
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology; D004386:Duodenum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*