A note on amino acid digestibility measured in pigs with pre-or post-valve ileo-rectal anastomoses, fed soya-bean, pea and meat meals

Abstract

It is known that microbial activity in the hind-gut of pigs influences the amino acid composition of faeces (Mason, 1984), yet contributes little to protein nutrition (Just, Jørgensen and Fernández, 1985). This diminishes the extent to which amino acid digestibility determined by faecal collection from intact pigs adequately represents nutritional value. In order to minimize the interference of hind-gut microflora, pigs for digestibility trials have been surgically modified to create a by-pass of the large intestine by ileo-rectal anastomosis (e.g. Green, Bertrand, Duron and Maillard, 1987 and 1988). This involves transection of the ileum approximately 100 mm anterior to the ileo/caecal valve. The modification can be considered as an alternative to collecting digesta from cannulas fitted in the ileum. The attributes of ileo-rectal anastomosis are that all digesta, rather than spot samples, can be collected and the animals remain in good health for many months of trial work. There is, however, concern that because the anastomosis operation involves complete severance of the ileum, digestion in the ileum may be abnormal. Of particular concern is the by-pass of the ileo-caecal valve which is suspected to have a restraining rôle on digesta passage (Gazet and Kopp, 1964; Laplace and Borgida, 1976), and therefore a possible influence on digestibility. When using ileo-caecal valve, by fitting the anterior digesta, other workers have attempted to preserve a complete ileum, and functional ileo-caecal value, by fitting the anterior cannula immediately posterior to the valve (Laplace, 1986)