Effects of ß-glucanase supplementation in pigs fed a diet rich in nonstarch polysaccharides : disappearance and disappearance rate of nutrients including the nonstarch polysaccharides in stomach and small intestine

The effect of nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP)-degrading enzymes providing xylanase according to the international "Enzyme Code" EC 3.2.1.8 or EC 3.2.1.4 respectively and 1,4-ß-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4) added to a diet rich in NSP was studied. The experimental diets consisted of barley, rye, wheat bran and soy bean meal. A total of 36 male castrated pigs (German Landrace) received the diets during a 3-week period (12-h intervals, 850 g per meal in the last 3 days). After this period, the animals were killed 1 h, 3 h and 6 h postprandial (mean bodyweight 39 kg). The contents of the stomach and small intestine were quantitatively collected. In all samples the raw nutrients, starch and NSP including soluble and insoluble fractions were analysed. The prececal disappearance and disappearance rate in the stomach largely identical with gastric emptying) due to enzyme supplementation as described in pigs could not be found in this study (p over 0,05), but the limited observation period until 6 h ppr must be taken into consideration. The disappearance rate in the small intestine of raw nutrients and starch was not significantly influenced. With regard to the NSP, only insoluble ß-glucan showed a significant increase in disappearance rate in the small intestine due to the added enzyme complex. It can be concluded that the intensity of gastric emptying determines the disappearance in the upper digestive tract.