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Myo-inositol is a breakdown product of phytate produced in the gut through the action of phytase. Although the effect of phytase-released phosphorus (P) on growth performance of animals has been well characterized, there is still little understanding of the effect of myo-inositol. The first objective of this study was to determine the effects of added myo-inositol to a phytate-rich low-protein diet on growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) in growing piglets. The second objective was to determine whether myo-inositol could directly affect intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and function for which we used intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2). A total of 128 weanling piglets were allotted to four dietary treatments consisting of eight replicates per treatment and four piglets per replicate in a randomized complete block design for 4 wk. The four experimental diets comprised the positive control [PC; 20% crude protein (CP)], negative control (NC; 17% CP), negative control plus 2.0g/kg myo-inositol (NC+INO; 17% CP), and negative control plus 3000FTU/kg phytase (NC+PHY; 17% CP). Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and gain-feed ratio (G: F) were recorded. Phytase supplementation in the protein-deficient NC diet increased the G:F ratio (P0.05) without myo-inositol effects on growth performance. Phosphorus digestibility in the phytase-supplemented group increased compared to the PC, NC, and NC+INO groups, whereas plasma myo-inositol concentration was significantly higher (P0.05) in the NC+INO group. Due to the lack of myo-inositol effect on growth performance, an additional in vitro study was conducted to determine the direct effect of myo-inositol on the intestinal epithelium that might not be reflected in growth performance. Myo-inositol increased the mRNA abundance of selected nutrient transporters in a concentration-dependent manner (P0.05). Myo-inositol also enhanced barrier integrity in the IPEC-J2 monolayer by increasing the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) with reduced paracellular permeability of FITC-dextran (P0.05). In conclusion, despite the lack of myo-inositol effect on animal performance, the in vitro data indicate that myo-inositol may directly regulate gut barrier integrity. Addition of myo-inositol to pig diets at levels that enhance intestinal epithelial cell function may result in effects on growth performance and gut health of pigs.After weaning, piglets undergo various kinds of stress that limit feed intake and nutrient digestibility. Much of the effects are strongest at the still-developing gastrointestinal tract where active feed digestion and nutrient uptake takes place. To sustain intestinal development and function during this stage of life, several nutrient additives are included in diets to promote intestinal function and nutrient uptake. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of phytase and myo-inositol on growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) in growing piglets and determine whether they had any effects on integrity in a cell culture model. In the animal study, phytase supplementation in the protein-reduced diets enhanced the rate of feed conversion, whereas the effect of myo-inositol on growth was not pronounced. Also, plasma concentration increased with myo-inositol addition. Under cell culture condition, myo-inositol enhanced the machinery for nutrients uptake and protein formation of the cells in a fashion that is dependent on its concentration. This study provides information on the potential role of myo-inositol on growth performance of growing piglets.

The objective of this present study was to determine the effects of phytase dosing on growth performance, mineral digestibility, phytate breakdown, and the level of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) in muscle plasma membranes of weanling pigs. A total of 160 barrows were used in a randomized completely block design and assigned to 4 treatments for a 7-wk study. Depending on the feeding phase, diets differed in dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels (positive control [PC]: 8 to 6.8g/kg Ca; 7.3 to 6.3 g/kg P; negative control [NC]: 5.5 to 5.2 g/kg Ca; 5.4 to 4.7 g/kg P). NC diets were supplemented with phytase at 0 (NC); 500 (NC + 500 FTU); or 2,000 FTU/kg (NC + 2,000 FTU) phytase units/kg. Blood was collected after fasting (day 48) or feeding (day 49) for measurement of plasma inositol concentrations. On day 49, 2 pigs per pen were euthanized, and duodenal and ileal digesta samples were collected to determine inositol phosphates (InsP6-2) concentrations. High phytase supplementation increased BW on days 21, 35, and 49 (P < 0.05). Over the entire feeding period, ADG, ADFI, and feed efficiency were increased by NC + 2,000 FTU compared with the other treatments (P < 0.05). Postprandial plasma inositol concentration was increased in NC + 2,000 (P < 0.01), but there was only a tendency (P = 0.06) of a higher fasting plasma inositol concentration in this group. Inositol concentrations in the portal vein plasma (day 49) were not different among treatments. Duodenal digesta InsP5 and InsP6 concentrations were similar in PC and NC, but higher in these 2 treatments (P < 0.05) than those supplemented with phytase. Phytase supplementation decreased InsP6-4, resulting in increased InsP3-2 and myo-inositol concentrations. Similar effects were found in ileal contents. Compared with NC, phytase supplementation resulted in greater cumulative InsP6-2 disappearance (93.6% vs. 72.8% vs. 25.0%, for NC + 2,000 FTU, NC + 500 FTU and NC, respectively, P < 0.01) till the distal ileum. Longissimus dorsi muscle plasma membrane GLUT4 concentration was increased by NC + 2,000 FTU (P < 0.01) compared with NC. In summary, high phytase supplementation increased growth performance of nursery pigs. The higher myo-inositol release from phytate could contribute to the increased expression of GLUT4 in muscle plasma membranes. Further investigation is needed to determine whether this is associated with enhanced cellular glucose uptake and utilization.

Myo-inositol is a breakdown product of phytate produced in the gut through the action of phytase. Although the effect of phytase-released phosphorus on growth performance of animals has been well characterized, there is still little understanding of myo-inositol effects. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of added myo-inositol to a phytate-rich low-protein diet on growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) in growing piglets as well as to determine whether myo-inositol could directly affect intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and function in intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2). A total of 128 weanling piglets were allotted to four dietary treatments consisting of eight replicates per treatment and four piglets per replicate in a randomized complete block design for four weeks. The experimental diets comprised the positive control (PC; 20% crude protein (CP), negative control (NC; 17% CP), negative control plus 2.0g/kg myo-inositol (NC+INO; 17% CP) and negative control plus 3000FTU/kg phytase (NC+PHY; 17% CP). Weekly average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), gain-feed ratio (G: F) were recorded. Phytase supplementation in the protein-deficient NC diet increased the G:F ratio (P< 0.05) without myo-inositol effect on growth performance. Phosphorus digestibility in the phytase supplemented group increased compared to the PC, NC, and NC+INO groups whereas plasma myo-inositol concentration was significantly higher (P< 0.05) in the NC+INO group. Due to lack of myo-inositol effect on growth performance, an additional in vitro study was conducted to determine direct effect of myo-inositol on the intestinal epithelium that might not be reflected in growth performance. Myo-inositol increased mRNA abundance of selected nutrient transporters in a concentration-dependent manner (P< 0.05), enhanced barrier integrity in the IPEC-J2 monolayer and reduced paracellular permeability of FITC-dextran (P< 0.05). In conclusion, despite the lack of myo-inositol effect on animal performance, the in-vitro data indicates that myo-inositol may directly regulate gut barrier integrity.

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that reducing limestone and monocalcium phosphate in diets for weanling pigs by lowering the concentration of Ca and P or by including microbial phytase in the diet will reduce stomach pH and fecal score and will improve growth performance of pigs. A total of 160 weanling pigs (5.75 ± 1.04 kg) were allotted to four corn-soybean meal-based diets in a completely randomized design with five pigs per pen. Diets for phase 1 (d 1 to 15) were formulated using a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 concentrations of Ca and P (adequate or deficient levels of total Ca and digestible P) and 2 inclusion levels of phytase (0 or 2,000 units/kg feed). Phytase was assumed to release 0.16% total Ca and 0.11% digestible P. Common diets were fed in phases 2 (d 16 to 21) and 3 (d 22 to 35). Fecal scores were recorded in phase 1 and on d 15, gastric pH was measured and a blood sample and the right femur were collected from one pig per pen. Growth performance data were recorded within each phase. Results indicated that in phase 1, at deficient dietary Ca and P, pigs fed the diet with phytase had greater (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed (G:F) compared with pigs fed the diet without phytase, but in diets with adequate levels of Ca and P, no effect of phytase inclusion was observed (interaction, P < 0.05). Without phytase, pigs fed the diet with deficient Ca and P had reduced (P < 0.05) G:F compared with pigs fed the diet with adequate Ca and P, but if phytase was included, there was no effect of Ca and P on G:F (interaction, P < 0.05). For phases 2 and 3, and from d 1 to 35, no differences among dietary treatments were observed for ADG or G:F. Bone ash was greater (P < 0.05) in pigs fed diets with adequate Ca and P than in pigs fed diets with deficient Ca and P, but no effect of phytase inclusion was observed on bone ash. Concentrations of Ca and P did not affect stomach pH or fecal score, but pigs fed diets with phytase tended (P < 0.10) to have reduced stomach pH and fecal score compared with pigs fed diets without phytase. Pigs fed diets with adequate Ca and P had greater (P < 0.05) albumin in serum than pigs fed the Ca- and P-deficient diets. In conclusion, phytase inclusion in phase 1 diets may reduce diarrhea, but lowering Ca and P does not reduce stomach pH or fecal score and decreases bone ash, although growth performance during the entire weanling period is not affected.

In theory, supplementing xylanase in corn-based swine diets should improve nutrient and energy digestibility and fiber fermentability, but its efficacy is inconsistent. The experimental objective was to investigate the impact of xylanase on energy and nutrient digestibility, digesta viscosity, and fermentation when pigs are fed a diet high in insoluble fiber (>20% neutral detergent fiber; NDF) and given a 46-d dietary adaptation period. A total of 3 replicates of 20 growing gilts were blocked by initial body weight, individually housed, and assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments: a low-fiber control (LF) with 7.5% NDF, a 30% corn bran high-fiber control (HF; 21.9% NDF), HF + 100 mg xylanase/kg (HF + XY [Econase XT 25P; AB Vista, Marlborough, UK]) providing 16,000 birch xylan units/kg; and HF + 50 mg arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide (AXOS) product/kg (HF + AX [XOS 35A; Shandong Longlive Biotechnology, Shandong, China]) providing AXOS with 3–7 degrees of polymerization. Gilts were allowed ad libitum access to fed for 36-d. On d 36, pigs were housed in metabolism crates for a 10-d period, limit fed, and feces were collected. On d 46, pigs were euthanized and ileal, cecal, and colonic digesta were collected. Data were analyzed as a linear mixed model with block and replication as random effects, and treatment as a fixed effect. Compared with LF, HF reduced the apparent ileal digestibility (AID), apparent cecal digestibility (ACED), apparent colonic digestibility (ACOD), and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), NDF, and hemicellulose (P < 0.01). Relative to HF, HF + XY improved the AID of GE, CP, and NDF (P < 0.05), and improved the ACED, ACOD, and ATTD of DM, GE, CP, NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose (P < 0.05). Among treatments, pigs fed HF had increased hindgut DM disappearance (P = 0.031). Relative to HF, HF + XY improved cecal disappearance of DM (162 vs. 98 g; P = 0.008) and NDF (44 vs. 13 g; P < 0.01). Pigs fed xylanase had a greater proportion of acetate in cecal digesta and butyrate in colonic digesta among treatments (P < 0.05). Compared with LF, HF increased ileal, cecal, and colonic viscosity, but HF + XY decreased ileal viscosity compared with HF (P < 0.001). In conclusion, increased insoluble corn-based fiber decreases digestibility, reduces cecal fermentation, and increases digesta viscosity, but supplementing xylanase partially mitigated that effect.

The objective was to determine correlations between individual bones and total body bone ash to identify the bone that is most representative of total body bone ash in growing pigs. Twenty growing pigs were allotted to 1 of 2 diets that were formulated to contain 60% or 100% of the requirement for standardized total tract digestible (STTD) P. Both diets had an STTD Ca to STTD P ratio of 1.90:1. Growth performance and carcass weights were determined. Metacarpals, metatarsals, femur, tibia, fibula, 3rd and 4th ribs, and 10th and 11th ribs, and all other bones from the left half of the carcass were collected separately. Each bone was defatted and ashed. Pigs fed the diet containing 100% of required Ca and P had greater (P < 0.05) average daily gain, gain to feed, and ash concentration (%) in total and all individual bones except femur and fibula compared with pigs fed the diet containing 60% of required Ca and P. Calcium and P concentrations in bone ash were not affected by dietary treatments. Weights (g) of bone ash, bone Ca, and bone P were greater (P < 0.05) or tended to be greater (P < 0.10) for pigs fed the diet containing 100% of required Ca and P. Correlation coefficients between the weight of ashed metacarpals, metatarsals, and tibia and the weight of total bone ash were >0.95. In conclusion, metacarpals, metatarsals, and tibia were more representative of total body bone ash compared with other bones.

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that formulating diets for pigs based on a ratio between standardized total tract digestible (STTD) Ca and STTD P instead of total Ca and STTD P does not decrease Ca retention, but increases P utilization. Forty barrows (59.4 ± 3.8 kg) were individually housed in metabolism crates and allotted to four corn-soybean meal-based diets in a randomized complete block design with two blocks and five pigs per diet in each block. Diets were formulated using a 2 × 2 factorial design with two diet formulation principles (total Ca or STTD Ca) and two inclusion levels of microbial phytase (0 or 500 units per kg of feed). Phytase was assumed to release 0.11% STTD P and 0.16% total Ca. Diets were formulated based on requirements for total Ca and STTD P or a ratio between STTD Ca and STTD P of 1.25:1. Diets were fed for 11 d and fecal and urine samples were collected from feed provided from day 6 to day 10. Interactions (P < 0.05) between diet formulation principle and phytase level were observed for Ca intake, Ca in feces, Ca absorbed, Ca retained, P digestibility, P absorbed, and P in urine. Phytase increased (P < 0.05) the digestibility of Ca in both total Ca and STTD Ca diets. Without phytase, Ca intake, Ca in feces, and Ca absorbed was greater (P < 0.05) from pigs fed total Ca diets than from pigs fed STTD Ca diets, but P absorbed, P digestibility, and P in urine was greater (P < 0.05) from pigs fed STTD Ca diets than from pigs fed total Ca diets. However, in the presence of phytase, no differences between diet formulation principles were observed in these variables. Regardless of phytase, Ca in urine was lower (P < 0.05) from pigs fed STTD Ca diets than from pigs fed total Ca diets. There were no differences in Ca retention between pigs fed STTD Ca diets and total Ca diets, but pigs fed total Ca diets retained less (P < 0.05) Ca if diets contained phytase. No differences in P retention were observed between diet formulation principles, but pigs fed non-phytase diets retained more (P < 0.05) P than pigs fed diets with phytase. In conclusion, because diets formulated based on STTD Ca contain less Ca than total Ca diets, pigs fed STTD Ca diets excreted less Ca in urine, but retention of Ca was not affected. Formulating non-phytase diets based on STTD Ca instead of total Ca increased P absorption, which confirms the detrimental effect of excess Ca on P digestibility. However, P retention was not improved if pigs were fed STTD Ca diets.

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that the requirement for Ca expressed as a ratio between standardized total tract digestible (STTD) Ca and STTD P obtained in short-term experiments may be applied to pigs fed diets without or with microbial phytase from 11 to 130 kg. In a 5-phase program, 160 pigs (body weight: 11.2 ± 1.8 kg) were randomly allotted to 32 pens and 4 corn–soybean meal-based diets in a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 diet formulation principles (total Ca or STTD Ca), and 2 phytase inclusion levels (0 or 500 units/kg of feed) assuming phytase released 0.11% STTD P and 0.16% total Ca. The STTD Ca:STTD P ratios were 1.40:1, 1.35:1, 1.25:1, 1.18:1, and 1.10:1 for phases 1 to 5, and STTD P was at the requirement. Weights of pigs and feed left in feeders were recorded at the end of each phase. At the conclusion of phase 1 (day 24), 1 pig per pen was euthanized and a blood sample and the right femur were collected. At the end of phases 2 to 5, a blood sample was collected from the same pig in each pen. At the conclusion of the experiment (day 126), the right femur of 1 pig per pen was collected and carcass characteristics from this pig were measured. No interactions were observed between diet formulation principle and phytase inclusion for growth performance in any phase and no differences among treatments were observed for overall growth performance. Plasma Ca and P and bone ash at the end of phase 1 were also not influenced by dietary treatments. However, on day 126, pigs fed nonphytase diets formulated based on total Ca had greater bone ash than pigs fed STTD Ca-based diets, but if phytase was used, no differences were observed between the 2 formulation principles (interaction P < 0.05). At the end of phases 2 and 3, pigs fed diets without phytase had greater (P < 0.05) plasma P than pigs fed diets with phytase, but no differences were observed at the end of phases 4 and 5. A negative quadratic effect (P < 0.05) of phase (2 to 5) on the concentration of plasma Ca was observed, whereas plasma P increased (quadratic; P < 0.05) from phases 2 to 5. However, there was no interaction or effect of diet formulation principle or phytase inclusion on any carcass characteristics measured. In conclusion, STTD Ca to STTD P ratios can be used in diet formulation for growing-finishing pigs without affecting growth performance or carcass characteristics and phytase inclusion ameliorates bone resorption caused by low dietary Ca and P.

The study was conducted to determine the effects of high levels of phytase on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, phytate breakdown, and expression of mucosal tight junction and nutrient transporter genes in weanling pigs. A total of 128 barrows were penned in groups of four and used in a randomized completely block design and assigned to four treatments for a 28-d study. A two-phase feeding was implemented (phase 1: day 1 to 14; phase 2: day 15 to 28). The diets differed in dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels (positive control [PC]: 8.1 to 7.1 g/kg Ca and 6.5 to 6.8 g/kg P; negative control [NC]: 6.6 to 5.5 g/kg Ca and 5.6 to 5.3 g/kg P) from phase 1 to phase 2, respectively. NC diets were supplemented with phytase at 0 (NC), 1,500 (NC + 1,500), or 3,000 (NC + 3,000) phytase units (FTU)/kg. Blood was collected after fasting (day 27) or feeding (day 28) for the measurement of plasma inositol concentrations. On day 28, two pigs per pen were euthanized. Duodenal–jejunal and ileal digesta samples and feces were collected to determine inositol phosphates (InsP3-6) concentrations. Phytase supplementation increased the body weight on days 14 and 28 (P < 0.05). Average daily gain and feed efficiency compared with NC were increased by phytase with the majority of its effect in phase 1 (P < 0.05). The apparent ileal digestibility and apparent total tract digestibility of P were increased in piglets fed phytase-supplemented diets (P < 0.01) compared with NC piglets. Disappearance of InsP6 and total InsP3-6 up to the duodenum–jejunum, ileum, and in feces was increased by both phytase application rates (P < 0.01). Plasma concentrations of myo-inositol were higher (P < 0.001) in the phytase-supplemented diets than PC and NC diets, irrespective of whether pigs were fed or fasted. Expression of claudin 3 was higher in pigs fed both phytase-supplemented diets in the duodenum and jejunum compared with PC and NC. Mucin 2 expression was lower in the ileum of NC + 3,000 fed piglets compared with PC (P < 0.05), whereas expression of GLUT2 (solute carrier family 2-facilitated glucose transporter member 2) was increased (P < 0.05) by the NC + 3,000 treatment in all sections. In summary, high phytase supplementation increased the growth performance of nursery pigs. The increased expression of GLUT2 by phytase may indicate an upregulation of glucose absorption from the intestine by phytase.

The objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that the concentration of Ca in diets fed to late gestating sows affects the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and retention of Ca and P, serum concentrations of Ca and P, hormones, and blood biomarkers for bone formation and resorption. Thirty-six sows (average parity = 2.8) were housed in metabolism crates from day 91 to day 104 of gestation and fed 1 of 4 experimental diets containing 25, 50, 75, or 100% of the requirement for Ca. All diets met the requirement for P. The initial 5 d of each period were the adaptation period, which was followed by 4 d of quantitative collection of feces and urine. At the end of the collection period, a blood sample was collected from all sows. Results indicated that feed intake, weights of dried fecal and urine samples, and the ATTD of DM were not affected by dietary Ca, but ATTD of Ca increased (quadratic, P < 0.05) as Ca in diets increased. Urine Ca output was not affected by dietary Ca, but Ca retention increased (quadratic, P < 0.05) as Ca intake increased. Fecal P output increased (linear, P < 0.001) as dietary Ca increased, which resulted in a linear decrease (P < 0.001) in the ATTD of P. Urine P output also decreased (linear, P < 0.001) as dietary Ca increased, but P retention increased (linear, P < 0.05). Regressing the apparent total tract digestible Ca against dietary Ca intake resulted in a regression line with a slope of 0.33, indicating that true total tract digestibility of Ca in calcium carbonate was 33%. Serum concentrations of Ca and P and estrogen, calcitonin, and parathyroid hormone were not affected by dietary Ca. Serum concentration of carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) decreased (linear, P < 0.05) as dietary Ca increased, which is a result of reduced bone resorption as dietary Ca increased. Serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase tended to decrease (linear, P < 0.10) as Ca in diets increased, but the concentration of osteocalcin (OC) in serum was not affected by dietary Ca. The ratio between OC and CTX-I tended to increase (P < 0.10) as dietary Ca increased, which indicated that there was more bone formation than resorption in sows as dietary Ca increased. In conclusion, P digestibility in late gestating sows decreased, but retention of P increased, as dietary Ca increased from inadequate to adequate levels and blood biomarkers for bone resorption changed as Ca and P retention increased.

The aim of this study was to investigate the growth performance and nutrient utilization responses of broiler chickens and the nutrient utilization of pigs to xylanase, experimental diet formulation method for energy (FME), and digestibility index marker (DIM). In Exp. 1, a total of 448 male broiler chickens were used in a randomized complete block design with body weight (BW) as a blocking factor. Seven dietary treatments were prepared in a 3 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement with inclusion of sand, diatomaceous earth (DAE), or wheat bran (WB) as FME and without or with xylanase (26,400 units/kg of diet) plus positive control. Each of chromic oxide and titanium dioxide was incorporated at 5 g/kg in diets. There were eight replicate cages of eight birds per cage. Birds were weighed on d 7, 14, and 21, and feed intake was recorded. Excreta samples were collected from d 19 to 21. On d 21, birds were euthanized, and ileal digesta samples were collected. In Exp. 2, twenty-one barrows (initial BW = 33.0 ± 0.3 kg), fitted with simple T-cannulas at the distal ileum, were used in a triplicate 7 × 2 incomplete Latin Square design with seven dietary treatments, which were prepared by the same arrangement as in broiler chickens, and two periods giving six replicates per diet. Fecal samples were collected on d 4 and 5, and ileal digesta samples were collected on d 6 and 7 of each period. In Exp. 1, the growth performance of birds was not affected by xylanase. There were interactions (P < 0.05) between xylanase and FME for apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of crude protein, His, Met, Thr, and Trp. Inclusion of xylanase decreased (P < 0.05) the AID of crude protein and Trp in sand diet and AID of His and Thr in DAE diet, but increased (P < 0.05) AID of Met in WB diet. The AID of energy and nutrients except Arg and Met were greater (P < 0.05) observed with Cr than Ti as DIM. In Exp. 2, there were interactions (P < 0.05) between xylanase and FME for AID of dry matter, energy, Arg, and Lys. Inclusion of xylanase decreased (P < 0.05) the AID of Lys in DAE or WB diet, but increased (P < 0.05) AID of Arg in sand diet and AID of energy in WB diet. The DIM type had no effect on responses in pigs. In conclusion, the efficacy of xylanase on ileal energy and amino acids digestibility depends on the choice of FME in broiler chickens and pigs, and DIM affects the determination of ileal digestibility in broiler chickens.

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that lowering dietary Ca and P reduces gastric pH and diarrhea of weanling pigs, but microbial phytase overcomes negative effects of low Ca and P on growth performance and bone ash. A total of 320 weanling pigs (6.35 ± 0.87 kg) were allotted to 8 corn-soybean meal-based diets in a randomized complete block design with 5 pigs/pen. Two phase 1 (d 1 to 14) control diets contained 100 or 50% of total Ca and digestible P relative to the requirement, and 6 diets in which 500, 2,000, or 16,000 units/kg of phytase was added to each control diet were formulated. Common diets were fed in phases 2 (d 15 to 27) and 3 (d 28 to 42). Fecal scores were recorded in phase 1 and growth performance data were recorded within each phase. Gastric pH was measured in 1 pig/pen on d 14; on d 14 and 42, the right femur of 1 pig/pen was collected. Data were analyzed using contrast statements in SAS. Results indicated that during phase 1, lowering Ca and P did not reduce gastric pH or fecal score, but the 50%-diets reduced (P < 0.05) average daily gain and average daily feed intake of pigs compared with the 100%-diets (Table 1). Phytase above 500 units/kg increased (P < 0.05) gain:feed ratio and tended (P < 0.10) to decrease gastric pH. Pigs fed the 50%-diets had reduced (P < 0.05) bone ash at d 14 and 42 compared with pigs fed the 100%-diets regardless of phytase inclusion level. In conclusion, reducing Ca and P in diets for weanling pigs does not decrease gastric pH or fecal score, but compromises growth performance and bone mineralization. However, super-dosing of phytase increases G:F of pigs regardless of dietary Ca and P concentration.

The objective was to test the hypothesis that Ca levels in diets fed to late gestating sows affect apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and retention of Ca and P, blood Ca and P, and serum concentrations of hormones and blood biomarkers. Thirty-six sows (parity = 2.8) were divided in 3 blocks, housed individually in metabolism crates from d 91 to 105 of gestation and randomly allotted to 4 experimental diets containing 25, 50, 75, or 100% of the requirement for Ca with a constant P concentration. Fecal and urine samples were collected for 4 d after 5 d of adaptation. At the conclusion of the experiment, a blood sample from all sows was collected. The statistical model included diet as fixed effect and parity, block, and replicate within block as random effects. Values for the ATTD and retention of Ca increased quadratically (P < 0.05) as dietary Ca increased. Fecal P output increased linearly (P < 0.001) as dietary Ca increased, which resulted in a linear decrease (P < 0.001) in the ATTD of P. Urine P output decreased linearly (P < 0.001) as dietary Ca increased with a linear increase (P < 0.05) in P retention. Serum Ca and P and estrogen, calcitonin, and parathyroid hormone were not affected by dietary Ca. Carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) in serum decreased linearly (P = 0.033) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase tended to decrease linearly (P = 0.091) as Ca in diets increased. Osteocalcin in serum was not affected by Ca levels, but the ratio between osteocalcin and CTX-I tended to increase (P = 0.055) as dietary Ca increased. In conclusion, P digestibility decreases, but retention of P increases, as dietary Ca increases and blood biomarkers may be useful to predict bone formation and resorption by late gestating sows.

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that formulating diets for pigs based on a ratio between standardized total tract digestible (STTD) Ca and STTD P instead of total Ca and STTD P increases the efficiency of Ca and P utilization. Forty barrows (59.4 ± 3.8 kg) were individually housed in metabolism crates and allotted to 4 corn-soybean meal diets and 2 periods of 11 d in a randomized complete block design. Diets were formulated using a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 Ca requirement estimates (total Ca or STTD Ca) and 2 inclusion levels of microbial phytase (0 or 500 units/kg). Phytase was assumed to release 0.11% STTD P and 0.16% total Ca. Diets were formulated based on requirements for total Ca and STTD P and the ratio between STTD Ca and STTD P was 1.25:1 in diets formulated based on STTD Ca. Fecal and urine samples were collected from feed provided from d 6 to 9. Data for Ca and P balance were analyzed using a model that included the main effects of diet formulation and phytase level, the interaction between main effects, and the random effect of period. Interactions (P < 0.05) between diet formulation and phytase level were observed for Ca intake, Ca in feces, Ca digestibility, Ca retained as a percentage of intake, P digestibility, P absorbed, and P in urine (Table 1). Despite being provided less (P < 0.05) Ca, pigs fed diets formulated based on STTD Ca did not absorb or retain less Ca than pigs fed total Ca diets, but they absorbed more (P < 0.05) P than pigs fed diets formulated based on total Ca. In conclusion, by formulating diets based on values for STTD Ca, P absorption was increased confirming detrimental effects of oversupplying Ca.

Endoxylanases are frequently used in cereal-based broiler feeds to improve the nutritional quality of the feed. It is hypothesized that the age of broilers and the age-related development of their intestinal microbiota influence the efficacy of these enzymes. Hence, the objective of this study was to identify possible age-related changes in arabinoxylan (AX) digestion in the different parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of broilers. A feeding trial was performed with 240 one-day old chicks (Ross 308) receiving a wheat-based feed containing no supplemented endoxylanase. Digesta samples from every section of the GI tract were collected at 5, 10, 15, 21, 28 and 35 d of age and analyzed for AX content, AX digestibility, intestinal viscosity and microbial endoxylanase and arabinofuranosidase activity. In the first two weeks, the microbiota were able to solubilize a part of the water-unextractable arabinoxylan (WU-AX), thereby increasing intestinal viscosity and water-extractable arabinoxylan (WE-AX) concentrations in the GI tract. In these young birds, WU-AX and WE-AX with low arabinose to xylose ratios were able to enter the caeca but were not yet extensively fermented by the caecal microbiota as indicated by the high caecal AX concentrations at 5 and 10 d (P < 0.01). Establishment of a more mature microbial community at three weeks of age resulted in a further increase in both the solubilization of WU-AX and fermentation of WE-AX at the ileum and caecum (P < 0.10). Furthermore, the increase in AX degrading enzyme activities with age denotes the high AX degrading capacity of the caecal microbiota. Finally, a total tract AX digestion of 24% was achieved at slaughter age (d 35). Our results clearly indicate that the capacity of intestinal microbiota to degrade AX in the hindgut increases as the broiler ages. This suggests that the benefits of endoxylanase supplementation of broiler feeds depend on the interaction of the intestinal microbiota and AX present in the GI tract at specific broiler ages. ispartof: POULTRY SCIENCE vol:98 issue:10 pages:4606-4621 ispartof: location:England status: published

Xylanase may improve fermentability of corn co-products through the alteration of hemicellulose, but the mode of action (MOA) is incompletely understood. The experimental objective was to investigate the in vivo MOA of xylanase in growing pigs fed insoluble fiber. Sixty gilts (25.4 ± 0.9 kg BW; L337 X Camborough), were blocked by weight, housed individually, and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments: a low-fiber control (LF; 8.45% NDF), a 30% corn bran high-fiber control (HF; 24.5% NDF), HF + 100 mg of xylanase/kg (HF+XY; Econase XT 25P; AB Vista, Marlborough, UK), and HF + 50 mg of arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide/kg (HF+AX; 3-7 degrees of polymerization). Gilts were fed ad libitum for 36 d, followed by 10-d of metabolism crate housing and limit feeding (80% of average ad libitum intake). On d 46, pigs were necropsied and ileal, cecal, and colonic digesta were collected for short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) analysis, and 16s rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Data were analyzed as a mixed model with random effects of replicate and block, and fixed effect of treatment. Differences in individual operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were compared using Linear Discriminant Analysis Effect Size. Acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total SCFA in the ileum did not differ (P >0.05), but HF+XY had 10 significantly different OTUs compared to HF in the ileum (P< 0.05). In the cecum, compared to LF, HF reduced total SCFA concentration (91.7 vs. 82.8 mM/L; P< 0.01). However, HF+XY and HF+AX increased total SCFA concentration by 23% and 12% over HF, respectively (P< 0.05). This is likely due to increased cecal acetate concentration (54.0, 53.2, 74.4, 61.2 mM/L for LF, HF, HF+XY, and HF+AX, respectively; P< 0.01). Total colonic SCFA concentration did not differ (P=0.72), but xylanase increased molar proportions of butyrate (P< 0.01). One MOA of xylanase could be the release of fermentable substrates from insoluble fiber.

Xylanase should increase arabinoxylan digestibility in swine, but the responses in corn-based diets are inconsistent. The experimental objective was to investigate xylanase efficacy in growing pigs fed a diet high in insoluble corn fiber and afforded a longer adaptation period than typically reported in the literature. Sixty gilts (25.4 ± 0.9 kg BW; L337 × Camborough), were blocked by weight, housed individually, and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments: a low-fiber control [LF; 6.9% non-starch polysaccharides (NSP)], a 30% corn bran high-fiber control (HF; 17.6% NSP), HF + 100 mg xylanase/kg (HF+XY; Econase XT 25P; AB Vista, Marlborough, UK), and HF + 50 mg arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide/kg (HF+AX; 3-7 degrees of polymerization). Diets contained 0.5% CrO3. Gilts were fed ad libitum for 36 d, followed by 10-d of limit feeding (80% of average ad libitum intake) and were housed in metabolism crates. On d 46, pigs were necropsied and ileal, cecal, and colonic digesta were collected; ileal digesta was pooled within replicate for NSP analysis (n=6 per treatment). Data were analyzed as a linear mixed model using replicate and block as random effects, and treatment as a fixed effect. Compared to LF, the HF diet reduced (P< 0.01) apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of total NSP (32.7 vs. 16.3%), insoluble NSP (50.0 vs. 21.5%), and insoluble arabinoxylan (29.8 vs. 15.4%). Xylanase (HF+XY vs. HF) increased (P< 0.01) AID of total NSP by 39.8% (27.1 vs. 16.3%) and insoluble NSP by 34.0%. This may be attributed to xylanase increasing AID of total arabinoxylan by 54.5% over HF, 44.5% over LF, and 56.9% over HF+AX (33.0, 15.1, 18.3, and 14.2%, respectively; P=0.02). In conclusion, increasing insoluble fiber reduces NSP digestibility, but xylanase can increase AID of arabinoxylan and NSP. Supplementing an arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide, a potential release product of the xylanase, did not increase NSP digestibility.

To determine the influence of incubation time, diet, and particle size on Ca and P solubility in vitro, experimental diets were formulated to contain 0.89% Ca and 0.40% available P (positive control; PC) or 0.76% Ca and 0.27% available P (negative control; NC). The PC was supplemented with 0 or 1,000 phytase units (FTU) of microbial phytase/kg and the NC with 0, 1,000, or 5,000 FTU/kg diet of microbial phytase for a total of 5 experimental diets. In Exp. 1, diets were exposed to simulated gastric digestion containing HCl and pepsin for 42 min, or a small intestinal digestion phase containing NaHCO(3) and pancreatin for 60 min. In Exp. 2, diets were ground to pass a 1- or 2-mm screen and exposed to gastric digestion for 5, 10, or 20 min. Phosphorus and Ca solubility were similarly influenced by diet and digestion phase (Exp. 1), and there was no interaction. Phytase supplementation improved (P < 0.001) Ca and P solubility in both the PC and NC diets (Exp. 1) and increased P (P < 0.001) and Ca (P < 0.001) solubility in the gastric phase of the in vitro digestion model (Exp. 2). Phytase continued to release P in the gastric test over time, which resulted in a diet × time interaction (P < 0.05). Calcium solubility reached an asymptote at 5 min and both Ca and P solubility was reduced (P < 0.05) in diets ground to pass a 2 mm screen compared with diets ground to pass a 1-mm screen. In addition, P and Ca solubility did not change over time in diets not supplemented with phytase. In conclusion, phytase or particle size altered the kinetics of Ca and P release in a non-parallel fashion, which may be associated with the precipitation of Ca with phytate and the sequential dephosphorylation of phytate by a microbial 6-phytase. In the presence of phytase, considerable Ca and P hydrolysis occurred within 5 min of a simulated gastric digestion. However, the solubility of Ca and P reached a plateau in the gastric phase of digestion and no further improvements in solubility are apparent in the small intestine. Therefore, absorption of Ca and P may be complicated by conditions within the gastrointestinal tract, particle size, precipitation with anti-nutrients, and differential rates of delivery to the small intestine.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the concept that the addition of corn expressing an Escherichia coli-derived gene (corn-based phytase; CBP) to a P-deficient diet would improve growth performance and P utilization in pigs. An E. coli-derived microbial phytase (expressed in Pichia pastoris) sprayed onto a wheat carrier (Quantum) was included for comparison. In Exp. 1, forty-eight 10-kg pigs were blocked by BW into 6 blocks and allotted to 8 dietary treatments such that the BW among dietary treatments was similar and given free access to feed for 28 d. The dietary treatments were a negative control (NC) with no inorganic P supplementation; NC + 2, 4, or 6 g of monosodium phosphate/kg; NC + 16,500, 33,000, or 49,500 phytase units (FTU) of CBP/kg; and NC + 16,500 FTU of Quantum/kg. In Exp. 2, twenty-four 13-kg barrows were assigned to the NC, NC + 16,500 or 33,000 FTU of CBP/kg, or NC + 16,500 FTU of Quantum/kg, in a nutrient- and energy-balance study consisting of 5 d of adjustment and 5-d collection periods. The total collection method was used to determine nutrient and energy balance. Addition of CBP to the low-P NC diet linearly increased (P < 0.01) ADG, G:F, and plasma P concentration of pigs during the 28-d study. There was no difference in ADG, G:F, or plasma P concentration between pigs fed the CBP or Quantum phytase at 16,500 FTU/kg. Weight gain, G:F, and plasma P concentration of pigs increased (P < 0.01) with monosodium phosphate supplementation, confirming P deficiency of the NC diet. Linear improvements (P < 0.05) in DM digestibility and energy retention were observed with CBP supplementation of the NC diet. Although there were linear (P < 0.01) and quadratic (P < 0.05) increases in N digestibility, N retention was unaffected by CBP supplementation of the NC diet in growing pigs. Phosphorus and Ca digestibilities and retentions improved linearly and quadratically (P < 0.01) with the addition of CBP to the NC diet. There was no difference in digestive utilization of P or Ca between pigs fed CBP and Quantum phytase at 16,500 FTU/kg. The data showed that the addition of a corn expressing an E. coli-derived gene to a P-deficient diet improved growth performance and indices of P utilization in pigs, and corn expressing phytase was as efficacious as Quantum phytase when supplemented in P-deficient diets for weanling pigs.

Ovodefensins are a novel beta defensin-related family of antimicrobial peptides containing conserved glycine and six cysteine residues. Originally thought to be restricted to the albumen-producing region of the avian oviduct, expression was found in chicken, turkey, duck, and zebra finch in large quantities in many parts of the oviduct, but this varied between species and between gene forms in the same species. Using new search strategies, the ovodefensin family now has 35 members, including reptiles, but no representatives outside birds and reptiles have been found. Analysis of their evolution shows that ovodefensins divide into six groups based on the intra-cysteine amino acid spacing, representing a unique mechanism alongside traditional evolution of sequence. The groups have been used to base a nomenclature for the family. Antimicrobial activity for three ovodefensins from chicken and duck was confirmed against Escherichia coli and a pathogenic E. coli strain as well as a Gram-positive organism, Staphylococcus aureus, for the first time. However, activity varied greatly between peptides, with Gallus gallus OvoDA1 being the most potent, suggesting a link with the different structures. Expression of Gallus gallus OvoDA1 (gallin) in the oviduct was increased by estrogen and progesterone and in the reproductive state. Overall, the results support the hypothesis that ovodefensins evolved to protect the egg, but they are not necessarily restricted to the egg white. Therefore, divergent motif structure and sequence present an interesting area of research for antimicrobial peptide design and understanding protection of the cleidoic egg.