Pattern of non-starch polysaccharide digestion along the gut of the pig: Contribution to available energy

Abstract We investigated the pattern of non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) digestion along the gut of pigs fed two different wheats, which were offered with or without xylanase supplementation. The two wheats used were pre-characterised before the experiment on the basis of low and normal feed intake of young pigs. Wheat type significantly influenced feed intake and growth rate in the first 7 days, however, by day 14 the only significant effect of wheat type was on growth rate. Xylanase supplementation increased the growth performance of pigs fed the poor quality wheat to a level similar to those fed the normal wheat. It also increased the daily gain of pigs fed the normal wheat. Wheat type had no significant effect on the digestibility of dry matter (DM), energy, free sugars or the different fractions of NSP in the duodenum, ileum or in the faeces. The duodenal gross energy digestibility values for the low and high performance diets were −27.4 and −47.5%, respectively, and xylanase supplementation significantly increased the digestibility of energy back to positive levels. Dry matter digestibility values followed a similar pattern. In the duodenum, xylanase increased ( P