The effect of change of the diet and feeding regimen at weaning on duodenal myoelectrical activity in piglets

This study investigated the effect of the change of diet and feeding regime n at weaning on myoelectrical activity of the intestine of piglets. For thi s purpose the electromyographic recordings of duodenal myoelectrical activi ty were carried out in relation to the different weaning status of piglets. Six piglets, in two experimental trials were surgically modified with two serosal, bipolar electrodes on the duodenum. The myoelectrical activity was recorded in the same piglets before weaning when they were sucking their s ow and after weaning when the diet was changed to solid dry food (standard commercial concentrate for weaned rigs). In sucking piglets the intestinal myoelectrical activity pattern exhibited triple-phased migrating myoelectri c complex (MMC), undisturbed by sow nursing. After weaning, feeding with so lid food induced a long-term post-prandial pattern with higher frequency of electrical response activity (ERA) when compared with phase II of the MMC. The duration of the MMC cycles increased with time over the experiment by proportionately 0.11, and 0.14 in the periods before and after weaning. How ever, weaning significantly shortened MMC cycle duration by proportionately 0.21. The duration of phase II was significantly prolonged with time over the experiment by 0.07 to 0.10 and it was not affected by weaning. Phase II I of MMC were of constant duration over the whole experimental period. In summary, changes in the diet and feeding regimen have an influence on th e characteristics of intestinal myoelectrical activity in piglets around we aning.