EFFECT OF CITRIC-ACID, OLAQUINDOX, ZINC-BACITRACIN AND ZINC-OXIDE ON PRECECAL DIGESTION OF CRUDE NUTRIENTS AND ILEOCECAL FLOW OF MINERALS IN MINIPIGS

The effect of additives (10 g citric acid, 100 mg olaquindox, 40 mg zi nc-bacitracin, 3 g zinc as zinc oxide per kg of leed compared ro a con trol diet based on maize and soybean meal without additives) on appare nt precaecal digestibility of crude nutrients, and on ileocaccal now o f water, major minerals, zinc, and copper, as well as on pH, organic a cid, and ammonia concentration in ileal chyme, was measured in five Go ttinger Minipigs (16-37 kg body weight) fitted with ileocaecal cannula s. Apparent precaecal protein digestibility tended to increase, but th is effect was not significant. There was no systematic effect on preca ecal digestibility of other crude nutrients. Citric acid led to an inc rease in lactate concentration and a decrease in pH in ileal chyme. Th e ileocaecal flow of sodium increased, that of potassium decreased, an d water content in ileal chyme increased after the intake of citric ac id, whereas zinc oxide had the opposite effect. Zinc oxide increased p recaecal zinc digestibility from 1% in the control group to 44%, where as it had no effect on precaecal copper digestibility.