THE EFFECT OF OLIGOSACCHARIDES AND LACTITOL ON THE ILEAL DIGESTIBILITIES OF AMINO-ACIDS, MONOSACCHARIDES AND BACTERIAL-POPULATIONS AND METABOLITES IN THE SMALL-INTESTINE OF WEANLING PIGS

An experiment was carried out to examine the effects of supplementing diets for weanling pigs with oligosaccharides and LAC on nutrient dige stion and bacterial populations and metabolites in the small intestine . Twelve barrows, weaned at 28 d, were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum. The BW of the pigs at weaning and at the conclusi on of the experiment were 9.1 and 13.8 kg, respectively. The pigs were fed four diets based on barley, wheat and soybean meal according to a two-period change-over design. The diets were formulated to contain 1 8% CP. Transgalactosylated oligosaccharides (0.2%), GUO (0.2%) and LAC (1%, 4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-D-sorbitol) were included at the exp ense of corn starch. Supplementation with oligosaccharides or LAC had little effect on the apparent ileal digestibilities of AA and monosacc harides. Supplementation of diets with oligosaccharides or LAC did not affect (P > 0.05) the monosaccharide concentrations in ileal digesta except for galactose which was higher (P < 0.05) in digesta from pigs fed the diet supplemented with LAG. The daily ileal output of monosacc harides, pH, ammonia and VFA concentrations, bacterial populations in ileal digesta and incidence of diarrhea were not affected (P > 0.05). Therefore, the supplementation of diets for weanling pigs (9.1-13.8 kg ) with oligosaccharides or LAC at these levels does not affect nutrien t digestibilities and bacterial populations in the small intestine.