Influence of fiber type and carbohydrase supplementation on nutrient digestibility, energy and nitrogen balance, and physiology of sows at mid and late gestation

Abstract Carbohydrase supplementation in grow-finish pig diets improves energy, nutrient digestibility, and gastrointestinal function, but their efficacy in gestation diets is understudied. The experimental objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a multicarbohydrase to improve digestion, energetics, and various physiological functions in gestating sows fed soluble and insoluble fiber diets. On day 28 of gestation, 36 sows (186 ± 4.6 kg body weight), blocked by parity, were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments (n = 9). Factors included fiber type of insoluble (IF; 20% dried distiller grains with solubles) or soluble fiber (SF; 20% sugar beet pulp) and with (+) or without (−) enzyme (0.05%, Rovabio Advance P10; Adisseo, Antony, France). Diets were fed from days 28 to 109 of gestation at a feeding level of 2.1 kg (SID-Lys 11 g/d and 4.5 net energy-Mcal/d). Two separate 9-d metabolism periods were conducted on days 50 to 59 (mid) and 99 to 108 (late) of gestation. During each period, days 1 to 3 served as an adaptation period, days 4 to 7 total urine and feces were collected (96-h) and followed by a 48-h lactulose-mannitol study. Serum and plasma were collected on days 50 and 99. Data were analyzed as repeated records using a linear mixed model with block as a random effect and fiber type, enzyme, and period and their interactions as fixed effects. Sows fed SF+ had increased serum IL-1ra (Fiber × Enzyme P = 0.035), and IL-2 (Fiber × Enzyme P = 0.042). In the presence of IF, multicarbohydrases increased serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, but not when supplemented with SF (Fiber × Enzyme P = 0.028). Circulating IL-8 and TNF-α were decreased in sows fed multicarbohydrases (P < 0.05). Multicarbohydrase supplementation increased the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of gross energy (GE), dry matter, and neutral detergent fiber by 2.8%, 3.4%, and 8.3%, respectively (P < 0.05). Compared to IF−, the ATTD of hemicellulose was 5.3% greater in sows fed IF+ but did not differ from SF− and SF+ (Fiber × Enzyme P = 0.037). Sows fed IF+ had the greatest ATTD of insoluble dietary fiber (Fiber × Enzyme P = 0.011). Sows fed multicarbohydrases excreted less energy in their urine (519 vs. 469 GE kcal/d; Enzyme P = 0.033) and in their feces (985 vs. 900 GE kcal/d; Enzyme P = 0.003). This resulted in an improvement in both digestible energy (Enzyme P < 0.01) and metabolizable energy (Enzyme P = 0.041), irrespective of fiber type. In conclusion, multicarbohydrase supplementation increased the digestibility and energetic contribution of fiber, irrespective of adaptation time or fiber type, but modulation of inflammatory responses was unique to dietary fiber type.