Intestinal Disaccharidase Activities of Three Breeds of Swine

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Total lactase and sucrase activities in the mucosa of the small intestine were determined from four pigs of the Hampshire (H), Duroc (D) and Yorkshire (Y) breeds at approximately 6 months of age. All pigs were fed a conventional 14% protein corn-soybean meal diet. Lactase (g lactose hydrolyzed/24 hr) and sucrase (g sucrose hydrolyzed/24 hr) activity differed (P<.01) among breeds, as Y had 2.5-fold greater activities than H or D. In a second trial, the effects of differences in intestinal lactase activity upon weight gain were evaluated in 5-month-old pigs (10H,10D and 10 Y) fed a control or 30% lactose diet. There were no significant differences among breeds or between diets in average daily gain during the first 14 days. Cecal and large intestinal lactase activities were increased (P<.01) in the pigs fed lactose, with no differences among the three breeds. Lactase activity (dry matter basis) was similar for cecal and colon contents. In a third study, total mucosal lactase, sucrase, and maltase activities were estimated in 30-day-old gilts from the three breeds. Lactase activity in Y was higher (P<.05) than D, with H being intermediate. Sucrase and maltase activities did not differ among breeds. Copyright © 1979. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1979 by American Society of Animal Science.