VFA Production in the Pig Large Intestine

Abstract

The volatile fatty acid (VFA) production rates in the large intestine of the pigs and the effect of carbohydrate intake levels on these rates were examined. Eight Large White barrows, weighing about 23 kg, were allotted into two groups; one with a low level of carbohydrate intake (LC group), and another with a high level of carbohydrate intake (HC group). In a digestion trial during the fifth week, the crude fiber digestibility in the LC group was higher (P<.01) than that in the HC group, and the excretion of fecal VFA was less (Pin vitro fermentation method. Acetate production rates were higher in the LC group than in the HC group. There was little difference in the production rates of propionate and butyrate between the two groups. The mean values of daily total-VFA production and absorption in the whole large intestine were estimated to be .99 and .85 moles for the LC group, and .88 and .69 moles for the HC group, respectively. The VFA absorbed from the large intestine accounted for 11.6 and 9.6% of the metabolizable energy for maintenance for the LC group and the HC group, respectively. Copyright © 1978. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1978 by American Society of Animal Science.