Intestinal degradation of dietary carbohydrates - from birth to maturity.

Abstract

This is an overview of the dietary carbohydrates present in the pig diet and of the intestinal degradation of carbohydrates component from birth to maturity. It discusses the classification of feed carbohydrates, development of the gastrointestinal tract in response to age and feeding, development of carbohydrase activity, and digestion of carbohydrates (sugars, oligosaccharides, starch, and non-starch polysaccharides).