Effect of Sunflower Hulls on Large Intestine Function in Finishing Swine

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Abstract
Twenty-four crossbred pigs from eight litters (average body weight of 70 kg) were used to evaluate the effect of dietary sunflower hulls (SFH) on fermentation in the cecum and colon. The basal diet (16% protein corn-soybean meal) was fed at 3% body weight. Dietary treatments were SFH added to the basal diet at 2, 10 and 20% of the weight of the diet. All animals were slaughtered (95 kg) 10 hr after feeding, and cecum and colon contents were incubated for 1 hour. Plasma urea N was lower (P<.10) in pigs fed the treatment with 20% added SFH and showed a negative correlation (P<.10) with plasma glucose. Intestinal empty weights and fill were not affected by dietary SFH level, but dry matter content of cecum and colon fill increased linearly (P<.05) with increasing levels of SFH. Increases in dietary SFH did not affect acetate, but did result in a linear decrease (P<.05) in propionate and butyrate concentrations in the cecum and colon. Consequently, the relative concentration of acetate increased linearly (P<.05) at the expense of propionate and butyrate in both the cecum and the colon when dietary levels of SFH were increased. No significant differences in VFA production rates were observed, except for colon propionate, which decreased linearly (P<.05) with SFH. VFA produced in cecum and colon during 24 hr could represent, as an average, 6.2, 5.6 and 5.0% of the energy required for maintenance in 95-kg pigs fed 2, 10 and 20% added SFH, respectively. Copyright © 1981. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1981 by American Society of Animal Science.

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