Mannan Oligosaccharides from Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Cell Wall Improves Nutrient Digestibility and Intestinal Morphology of Growing Pigs [Sus domesticus (Erxleben)]

Twelve male growing pigs (initially 40 kg), Landrace-Large White x Duroc-Pietrain strain, were used to determine the comparative effects of mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) from yeast cell wall and doxycycline (antibiotics) on the nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology on grower stage. The treatments used were (1) control or commercial diet, (2) commercial diet with 0.30% MOS and (3) commercial diet with 0.15 % doxycycline. Results showed significant increase in the apparent coefficient of digestibility for the protein, fats, nitrogen-free extract as well as gross energy upon the addition of MOS. There were also significant increases in the digestible nitrogen-free extract, digestible energy and total digestible nutrients compared with the control. The increase in apparent coefficient of digestibility is positively correlated with the increase in villi height of the animals upon addition of MOS (r = 0.70-0.87), which make it a good alternative to antibiotic growth promotants (AGPs). Key Words: coefficient of digestibility, doxycycline, intestinal morphology, mannan oligosaccharides, villi height Abbreviations: AGP - antibiotic-growth promotant, COD - coefficient of digestibility, MOS - mannan oligosaccharides