EFFECT OF LACTIC-ACID SUPPLEMENTATION ON PANCREATIC-SECRETION IN PIGSAFTER WEANING

The effect of lactic acid supplementation to the starter diet, on panc reatic secretion in pigs after weaning was studied in three crossbred piglets (Duroc, Danish Landrace and Yorkshire). The pigs were weaned a t 28 days of age, and adapted to live in metabolic cages for one week, after which the piglets were surgically fitted with a pancreatic duct catheter and a duodenal T-cannula for chronic collection of the pancr eatic juice. Studies were then carried out over a period of three week s, during which the piglets were fed three times a day (at 08.00, 15.0 0, and 22.00 h). During period I, the piglets were fed with a standard weaner diet (control), during period Il with a standard weaner diet s upplemented with 2.5% lactic acid period (lactic acid) and during peri od III with a standard weaner diet (control). Beginning four days afte r surgery, samples of pancreatic juice were taken hourly from 08.00 to 16.00 h. During period II, when lactic acid was added to the feed, th e mean for all measured parameters of pancreatic secretion, except bic arbonate, increased in comparison to their values during period I. How ever this increase was only significant for volume and protein content . In contrast, during period III, when lactic acid was removed, there were no statistically significant changes in any of the measured param eters of pancreatic secretion compared to their values in period II. O ur data strongly indicate that dietary supplementation with lactic aci d stimulates pancreatic secretion in piglets after weaning.