Mannitol and galactose as markers of gastrointestinal tract morphology in pigs after gradual or conventional weaning

摘要

Intermittent suckling sows and litters suckle, piglets suck (IS), where a sow and her piglets are separated for a period of time each day before weaning, can attenuate weaning-associated villous atrophy in progeny from multiparous sows (Berkeveld et al. 2009). The effect of such a management strategy on progeny from primiparous sows might be different given differences in gastrointestinal (GIT) function at weaning (Cottrell et al. 2017). Sugar absorption tests (SAT) using mannitol (MAN) and galactose(GAL) were used to assess GIT morphology with results validated using standard histological methods. Mannitol and GAL are usually absorbed in vivo across the epithelium via transcellular passive or active pathways, respectively. It was hypothesised that (1) MAN and GAL SAT would detect GIT changes at weaning, and (2) changes would be less profound in IS pigs from primiparous sows due to habituation with creep feed and maternal separation in lactation.