Effects of Dietary Fiber Fermentation and Protein Digestion Properties on Growth Performance and Microbial Metabolites in Weaned Pigs

Dietary nutrient digestion and utilization patterns influence pig performance and intestinal health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of protein digestion and fiber fermentation speed among different feed ingredients on growth performance and fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration...

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Main Authors: Jingyi Huang, Zhiqiang Sun, Qi Zhu, Fudong Zhang, Changhua Lai, Jinbiao Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1669
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author Jingyi Huang
Zhiqiang Sun
Qi Zhu
Fudong Zhang
Changhua Lai
Jinbiao Zhao
author_facet Jingyi Huang
Zhiqiang Sun
Qi Zhu
Fudong Zhang
Changhua Lai
Jinbiao Zhao
author_sort Jingyi Huang
collection DOAJ
description Dietary nutrient digestion and utilization patterns influence pig performance and intestinal health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of protein digestion and fiber fermentation speed among different feed ingredients on growth performance and fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations in weaned pigs. A total of 192 weaned pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire [6.87 ± 0.14 kg]) were selected and randomly divided into four dietary groups: fast-digesting protein with fast-fermenting fiber, fast-digesting protein with slow-fermenting fiber, slow-digesting protein with fast-fermenting fiber, and slow-digesting protein with slow-fermenting fiber. The results showed that cottonseed and wheat protein powders exhibited faster protein digestion than potato protein powder (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In vitro microbial fermentation of hawthorn powder and orange pomace resulted in greater and faster gas production and SCFA concentrations than sugarcane bagasse (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Orange pomace increased the abundance of <i>Klebsiella</i> and <i>Escherichia–Shigella</i>, whereas sugarcane bagasse increased the abundance of <i>Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group</i> and <i>norank_f__Muribaculaceae</i>. In addition, the fast-fermentation fiber tended to increase the daily weight gain and feed intake of piglets (<i>p</i> < 0.10), and the slow-fermentation fiber significantly reduced diarrhea incidence in pigs (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Fast fermentation increased acetate and valerate concentrations, and slow-digestion protein increased branched-chain SCFA and valerate contents (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, there were large variations in protein digestion and fiber fermentation speed among the different common feed ingredients. Dietary protein digestion and fiber fermentation speed would affect growth performance and diarrhea incidence in weaned pigs.
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spelling doaj-art-feae7992b6da42f7af2e8f1cc2a79aa62025-08-20T02:32:54ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-06-011511166910.3390/ani15111669Effects of Dietary Fiber Fermentation and Protein Digestion Properties on Growth Performance and Microbial Metabolites in Weaned PigsJingyi Huang0Zhiqiang Sun1Qi Zhu2Fudong Zhang3Changhua Lai4Jinbiao Zhao5State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaDietary nutrient digestion and utilization patterns influence pig performance and intestinal health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of protein digestion and fiber fermentation speed among different feed ingredients on growth performance and fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations in weaned pigs. A total of 192 weaned pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire [6.87 ± 0.14 kg]) were selected and randomly divided into four dietary groups: fast-digesting protein with fast-fermenting fiber, fast-digesting protein with slow-fermenting fiber, slow-digesting protein with fast-fermenting fiber, and slow-digesting protein with slow-fermenting fiber. The results showed that cottonseed and wheat protein powders exhibited faster protein digestion than potato protein powder (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In vitro microbial fermentation of hawthorn powder and orange pomace resulted in greater and faster gas production and SCFA concentrations than sugarcane bagasse (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Orange pomace increased the abundance of <i>Klebsiella</i> and <i>Escherichia–Shigella</i>, whereas sugarcane bagasse increased the abundance of <i>Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group</i> and <i>norank_f__Muribaculaceae</i>. In addition, the fast-fermentation fiber tended to increase the daily weight gain and feed intake of piglets (<i>p</i> < 0.10), and the slow-fermentation fiber significantly reduced diarrhea incidence in pigs (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Fast fermentation increased acetate and valerate concentrations, and slow-digestion protein increased branched-chain SCFA and valerate contents (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, there were large variations in protein digestion and fiber fermentation speed among the different common feed ingredients. Dietary protein digestion and fiber fermentation speed would affect growth performance and diarrhea incidence in weaned pigs.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1669fiber fermentation speedprotein digestion speedweaned pigsshort-chain fatty acidsmicrobial composition
spellingShingle Jingyi Huang
Zhiqiang Sun
Qi Zhu
Fudong Zhang
Changhua Lai
Jinbiao Zhao
Effects of Dietary Fiber Fermentation and Protein Digestion Properties on Growth Performance and Microbial Metabolites in Weaned Pigs
Animals
fiber fermentation speed
protein digestion speed
weaned pigs
short-chain fatty acids
microbial composition
title Effects of Dietary Fiber Fermentation and Protein Digestion Properties on Growth Performance and Microbial Metabolites in Weaned Pigs
title_full Effects of Dietary Fiber Fermentation and Protein Digestion Properties on Growth Performance and Microbial Metabolites in Weaned Pigs
title_fullStr Effects of Dietary Fiber Fermentation and Protein Digestion Properties on Growth Performance and Microbial Metabolites in Weaned Pigs
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Dietary Fiber Fermentation and Protein Digestion Properties on Growth Performance and Microbial Metabolites in Weaned Pigs
title_short Effects of Dietary Fiber Fermentation and Protein Digestion Properties on Growth Performance and Microbial Metabolites in Weaned Pigs
title_sort effects of dietary fiber fermentation and protein digestion properties on growth performance and microbial metabolites in weaned pigs
topic fiber fermentation speed
protein digestion speed
weaned pigs
short-chain fatty acids
microbial composition
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1669
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