GASTROINTESTINAL RESPONSE OF EARLY-WEANED PIGS TO SUPPLEMENTATION OF WHEAT-SOYBEAN MEAL DIETS WITH FUMARIC-ACID AND SODIUM-BICARBONATE

Two studies were conducted using piglets fitted with a simple T-cannul a at the distal ileum to determine the effect of fumaric acid suppleme ntation and different buffering capacities on ileal digestibilities an d on the level of microbial metabolites in ileal digesta. Supplementat ion of fumaric acid to a diet with a low buffering capacity (Experimen t 1) improved the ileal digestibilities of energy, crude protein and m ost of the amino acids (P<0.05). The decrease in microbial metabolites with increasing level of fumaric acid supplementation indicates a low er microbial activity in the upper digestive tract. Supplementation of fumaric acid to a diet with a high buffering capacity (Experiment 2) showed a trend (P>0.05) towards an increase in ileal nutrient digestib ilities. Digestibility values in experiment 2 were 2-10 percentage uni ts lower compared to the corresponding digestibility values in Experim ent 1.