Effect of different cereals on intestinal villous morphology in weaned piglets

Abstract

Twenty piglets weaned (WP) at 20.4 d were slaughtered 15 d post-weaning to evaluate the effect of four cereals on intestinal villous morphology. Treatments were a control diet (CD) containing corn starch, and four experimental diets with oats, corn or one of two sorghum hybrids used instead of corn starch. Four suckling piglets (SP) were slaughtered at weaning as a control group. Small intestine weight (absolute (g) or relative (g/kg)) was higher (P<0.001) in WP (383 g and 47 g/kg) than SP (166 g and 33 g/kg), and similar(P>0.05) between the WP fed the experimental diets. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in duodenal villus height between SP (352 mµ) and WP (342 mµ). Jejunal villi were shorter (P<0.05) in WP (367 mµ) than SP (523 mµ), except in piglets fed the CD (445 mµ). Ileac villi were higher (P<0.05) in piglets fed the CD (331 mµ), oats (354 mµ), corn (326 mµ) and sorghum1 (300 mµ) diets than in the SP (162 mµ). Duodenal villi were wider (P<0.05) in the WP fed experimental diets (154 mµ) than in the SP (109 mµ). Ileac villi were thinner (P<0.001) in the SP (78 mµ) than in the WP (106 mµ). No differences were observed in the jejunum. Crypt depth increased in all intestine sections in the WP versus the SP (duodenum: 236mµ vs 143 mµ (P<0.05), jejunum 180 mµ vs. 58 mµ (P<0.01), ileum 167 mµ vs 80 mµ (P<0.01) with no observed effect from carbohydrate source. The diets containing corn starch or any of the four cereals stimulated small intestine growth and had no apparent detrimental effects on intestinal morphology.