EFFECT OF GALACTAN ON SELECTED MICROBIAL-POPULATIONS AND PH AND VOLATILE FATTY-ACIDS IN THE ILEUM OF THE WEANLING PIG

Studies were conducted to determine the effect of galactan on the colo nization of E. coli and lactobacilli and ileal pH and volatile fatty a cid production in the digestive tract of the weanling pig. In each of two replicate trials, eight 21-d-old nursing pigs were cannulated in t he terminal ileum. After a 7-d recovery period, the pigs were weaned a nd randomly assigned to two test diets: 1) a corn-soybean meal-based c ontrol diet and 2) a similar diet containing 1% galactan. On d 1 after weaning, all pigs were orally subjected to K88+ E. coli (2 x 10(9) co lony forming units). Ileal digesta samples were collected on d 0, 2, 4 , 6, 8, and 10 after weaning and assayed for total E. coli, K88+ E. co li, lactobacilli, pH, and VFA. At the end of the trials, the pigs were killed and digesta samples were collected from the stomach, duodenum, cecum, and colon. Assays similar to those performed on the digesta sa mples collected from ileal cannulas were performed. Pigs fed 1% galact an had lower (P < .10) ileal pH, lower ( P < .05) total E. coli on d 6 and 8, and lower (P < .05) K88+ E. coli concentrations in the ileum t han pigs fed the control diet. There were no differences in ADG or gai n:feed ratio between diets. The VFA concentrations were not different in the ileum between diets. The VFA were higher (P < .10) on d 0 than on any other day of the study. Acetate and isobutyrate concentrations were lower (P < .10) in the cecum in pigs fed 1% galactan. Galactan in cluded in the feed on a 1% DM basis decreased pH and E. coli in the sm all intestine of newly weaned pigs.