Fiber-rich feed promotes health, animal welfare, and calmer pigs.
Fiber-rich feed influences not only digestion but also animal behavior. Dr. Cornelia Schwennen, a specialist veterinarian for pigs at the Institute of Animal Nutrition at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo), spoke at an online seminar by the QS Academy Bonn about the role of roughage in pig feeding. She explained the basics of digestive physiology: “Although pigs have a small intestine about 20 meters long, the feed only remains there for four to six hours. In contrast, the large intestine is only five meters long, but the digesta stays there for 22 to 25 hours.”
Microbes in the gut
The digestive tract houses 500 to 1,000 different strains of bacteria, with the large intestine being home to a vast microbial ecosystem. Saturated and unbranched short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with two to six carbon atoms, such as acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, play a significant role. These SCFAs serve as an energy source and reservoir and positively influence gut flora, the immune system, and even the brain.
Targeted behavior control
Different theories link gut microbiome imbalances with certain diseases. This knowledge can be used purposefully. “By including fiber components and fermentable roughage in the diet, we can feed the beneficial gut bacteria. This results in SCFAs that positively affect organs and cellular systems,” Schwennen said.
Source:https://www.landundforst.de/tier/schwein/raufutter-tut-schweinen-gut-573571
