The influence of high- and low-fibre diets on the activity of piperazine against Oesophagostomum spp. in pigs

Dietary fiber and its role in performance, welfare, and health of pigs

Dietary fiber (DF) is receiving increasing attention, and its importance in pig nutrition is now acknowledged. Although DF for pigs was frowned upon for a long time because of reductions in energy intake and digestibility of other nutrients, it has become clear that feeding DF to pigs can affect their well-being and health. This review aims to summarize the state of knowledge of studies on DF in pigs, with an emphasis on the underlying mode of action, by considering research using DF in sows as well as suckling and weaned piglets, and fattening pigs. These studies indicate that DF can benefit the digestive tracts and the health of pigs, if certain conditions or restrictions are considered, such as concentration in the feed and fermentability. Besides the chemical composition and the impact on energy and nutrient digestibility, it is also necessary to evaluate the possible physical and physiologic effects on intestinal function and intestinal microbiota, to better understand the relation of DF to animal health and welfare. Future research should be designed to provide a better mechanistic understanding of the physiologic effects of DF in pigs.

The disposition of pyrantel in the gastrointestinal tract and effect of digesta flow rate on the kinetic behaviour of pyrantel in the pig

Pigs consuming a diet with slow digesta transit time were orally administered with molar equivalent doses of pyrantel as the citrate and pamoate salt. At appropriate intervals pigs were killed and the quantitative-time distribution of pyrantel throughout the gut contents was determined. Compared with the citrate, there appeared to be greater quantities of the less soluble pamoate salt in the small and large intestine. An additional group of pigs fed on diets with "slow" or "fast" digesta transit time were orally treated with molar equivalent amounts of pyrantel as the citrate and pamoate salt and the respective kinetic disposition of pyrantel in peripheral plasma and quantitative excretion in faeces was determined. The diet type had little effect on pyrantel availability after administration of the less soluble pamoate salt. However, the maximum concentration of pyrantel in plasma was lower and there appeared to be greater quantities of pyrantel retained in the gut and excreted in faeces when the citrate salt was orally administered to pigs fed the "fast" compared to the "slow" diet. Since it is the quantity of pyrantel contained in the gut lumen which is believed to affect efficacy against gastrointestinal parasites, greater efficacy with this anthelmintic should be obtained when pigs are consuming a high fibre diet.