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Effect of diet composition on postweaning colibacillosis in piglets
L Montagne1, F S Cavaney, D J Hampson
1Unité Mixte de Recherche sur le Veau et le Porc, INRA, Agrocampus Rennes, Rennes, France. montagne@roazhon.inra.fr
Journal of Animal Science
|August 21, 2004
Summary
Diets based on cooked white rice protect piglets from postweaning colibacillosis (PWC). Substituting animal protein with plant protein maintained this protection, while adding carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) worsened PWC by increasing digesta viscosity.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Veterinary Medicine
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Postweaning colibacillosis (PWC) is a common digestive disorder in piglets caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.
- Previous research indicated that cooked white rice-based diets protect against PWC, but carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) exacerbates it.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if replacing animal protein with plant protein in a rice-based diet affects its protective properties against PWC.
- To confirm that increased digesta viscosity, induced by CMC, promotes PWC development.
Main Methods:
- Four diets were tested: cooked white rice with animal protein (RAP), RAP + CMC, cooked white rice with plant protein (RPP), and wheat with plant protein (WPP).
- Two experiments involved weaned piglets, with one experiment including experimental infection with enterotoxigenic E. coli.
- Fecal consistency, E. coli scores in feces and digesta, and large intestine characteristics were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The RAP diet demonstrated protective effects against PWC.
- Replacing animal protein with plant protein in the rice-based diet (RPP) did not diminish its protective effects.
- Adding CMC to the RAP diet increased digesta viscosity and exacerbated PWC, with higher E. coli scores observed.
- The WPP diet also showed some increase in E. coli scores and digesta viscosity compared to RAP and RPP.
Conclusions:
- Cooked white rice-based diets are protective against PWC in weaned piglets.
- Plant protein can effectively replace animal protein in these diets without compromising protection.
- Increased digesta viscosity, as induced by CMC, is a key factor in the development of PWC, making the RAP + CMC diet a valuable model for studying this condition.