Evaluation of prebiotic activity of conventional fibre feedstuffs in the diets of pigs

Over the years, significant research efforts have been made to improve livestock welfare and productivity. In part, this has been achieved through the use of in-feed antibiotics to enhance production and maintain animal health. More recently, the risks of residual effects, cross- resistance and development of antibacterial resistant strains especially on animal and final consumers of animal products provided justification for prohibition, hence the continuous search for suitable and cost-effective alternatives. This study evaluated the prebiotic activity of four fibre feedstuffs in diets of pigs. Twenty growing crossbred (Large White × Hampshire) pigs with a mean weight of 40±0.50 Kg were randomly allotted to four fibre feedstuffs namely palm kernel cake (PKC), brewer's dried grain (BDG), wheat offal (WO) and rice bran (RB) as well as maize in a 14-day feeding trial to examine their effect on the growth of non-pathogenic gut microbiota. The experimental pigs were randomly allocated to the diets in a completely randomized design with four animals per treatment. The arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide concentrations, proximate and cell wall composition of fibre feedstuffs, short chain fatty acids concentrations, apparent nutrient digestibility in the experimental animals, and the activities of bacteria in the guts of the experimental pigs were evaluated. Results showed significant difference (p 0.05) higher compared to the values in the foregut of pigs. The results also demonstrated that acetate and butyrate were mainly produced in the foregut while the concentration of propionate in addition to butyrate increased in the hindgut of pigs. The digesta acetate concentration was negatively correlated with dietary acid detergent fibre (ADF) and cellulose in the foregut. All the fibre feedstuffs promoted the growth of non-pathogenic Lactobacillus than maize in the foregut and hindgut, hence, palm kernel cake, brewer dried grains, wheat offal and rice bran could elicit prebiotic activity in the gut of growing pigs and enhance animal welfare.     A cause du scepticisme qui suit l'utilisation de la farine d'ecorce de manioc, il a ete preconise que sa valeur nutritive pour la volaille soit amelioree. Ainsi, une experience a ete menee pour evaluer l'effet dietetique de la farine d'ecorce de manioc (le 'CPM') amelioree en completant avec Calopogonium mucunoides (le 'CM') sur la digestibilite apparente des nutriments, la croissance, le rendement en viande et les organes internes des poulets de chair. Le 'CPM' a ete ameliore en melangeant 1000 g de celui-ci avec des feuilles fraiches et succulentes 'CM' a des niveaux de 0, 10, 20, 30 et 40% respectivement et inclus dans les regimes. Cent quarante-quatre (144) poussins Hubbard d'un jour ont ete utilises. Ils ont ete regroupes en six traitements (T1-T6), repliques en trois et avec huit oiseaux / repliques dans un plan completement randomise (le 'CRD'). Le traitement 1 (T1) etait le regime temoin sans CPM, T2 contenait du CPM non ameliore tandis que T3-T6 contenait du CPM melange a 10, 20, 30 et 40% de 'CM', respectivement. Des aliments et de l'eau ont ete offerts a volonte pendant 49 jours. Les resultats ont montre que le 'CM' ameliorait la teneur en proteines brutes, en extrait d'ether et en fibres du 'CPM'. Le poids vif et le rapport alimentation : gain etaient meilleurs (P 0,05). Lors de la phase de finition, alors que le poids vif etait augmente de 20 a 40% de 'CPM' ameliore, la prise alimentaire etait reduite (P <0,05). Le meilleur rapport alimentation : gain a ete enregistre par une 'CM' amelioree de 40%. Le CPM non ameliore reduit la digestibilite de la matiere seche, des proteines, de l'extrait d'ether et de l'utilisation de l'energie ; pourcentage habille, le poids du sein, du gesier, des reins, du pancreas et de l'intestin grele mais augmentation du volume de la bile et de la taille des caecas. Par consequent, il est recommande d'utiliser 40% de muconoides depour ameliorer la farine de pelure de manioc a inclure dans l'alimentation des poulets de chair.