Effect of wheat dextrin (PremiDex~R) and antibiotic on growth performance and fecal microbial population of grow-finish pigs

摘要

A prebiotic is a non-digestible carbohydrate that may have a positive influence on the colonic microbial population of the host animal. Dextrins are believed to serve as a prebiotic when added into swine diets. Dextrins are starch hydrolysis productsproduced via a dry roasting process using starch alone or with trace amount of an acid catalyst. This manufacturing process (called dextrinization) is designed to intentionally re-arrange grain starch molecules to convert a portion of normal alpha-1,4-glucose linkages to random 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4- alpha and beta linkages. Because of the glycosidic linkage randomization, dextrins cannot be digested in the stomach and small intestines. They are delivered to the large intestine to serve as food for beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. PremiDex is a wheat dextrin manufactured using an ADM patented technology. Wheat dextrin (PremiDex) has been shown to improve feed efficiency of nursery pigs. To our knowledge, no research has been conducted to evaluate efficacy of wheat dextrin in grow-finish diets. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine whether wheat dextrin affected growth performance and fecal microbial population of grow-finish pigs.