Xylanase effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, organ weight, and short chain fatty acid concentration in colon digesta of weaned pigs fed wheat and canola meal-based diets

Abstract This study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of xylanase on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, organ weight, digesta pH and concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) of weaned pigs fed wheat-canola meal-based diets over a 35-d period. A total of 144 piglets (6.2 ± 0.7 kg) received one of 8 diets based on a randomized complete block design. Body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency(G:F). Treatments consisted of a control wheat-SBM-based diet and wheat-regular (RCM), dehulled (DCM) or coarse (CCM) canola meal. All diets contained 500 phytase units (FTUs/kg; Quantum Blue-5G), and titanium-dioxide (0.3%), and were fed without and with 16,000 Birch-Xylan Units of xylanase (BXU/kg; Econase-XT). Apparent total tract digestibilities (ATTD) of NDF, CP, P, Ca, DM, and diet were determined. On d 35, one pig per pen was euthanized to evaluate the effect of treatment on organ weight, digesta pH, and digesta concentration of SCFA. Treatment did not affect growth performance. Xylanase supplementation improved nutrient digestibilities, without affecting growth performance. The ATTD of NDF was greater (P < 0.05; 48%) in the wheat-SBM+xylanase, wheat-SBM without xylanase (46%), and DCM+xylanase (45%) diets. The ATTD of CP was greater (P < 0.05; 78%) in wheat-SBM+xylanase, and wheat-DCM+xylanase (75%), diets. Xylanase supplementation increased ATTD of P and Ca by 9 and 19%; whereas ileum and colon digesta pH increased by 6 and 3%. Supplementing xylanase to DCM increased butyric acid by 10%, whereas the concentration of acetic acid increased by 24% in colon-digesta of pigs fed CCM+xylanase. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of xylanase increased nutrient digestibilities, digesta pH without affecting growth performance of weaned pigs fed wheat and canola meal-based diets. Additionally, supplemental xylanase increased butyric acid concentration in colon digesta of pigs fed wheat-DCM diets.