Evaluation of starch sources in diets of weaned piglets

Abstract

The main energy source in piglets diet is starch and depends on the speed that it is digested can be subdivided into rapidly digested starch, slowly digestible starch and resistant starch. The digestion of starch must allow sufficient levels of blood glucose to occur proper animal's growth and body protein deposition, however, the glycemic response of diet changes according to its composition in relation to the starch fractions. The aim of this study will been evaluate the effects of different combinations of sources and starch fractions in the diet of weaned piglets on performance, fecal microbiota, glycemic response and plasmatic levels of insulin and urea. Will be carry out two experiments (E) with a total of 128 weaned piglets with average age of 21 days to compare four treatments: D1 - basal diet with corn as the main source of starch; D2 - diet with corn replacement of D1 to 25% of broken rice; D3 - diet with corn replacement of D1 to 25% of broken rice and 25% of wheat flour; D4 - diet with corn replacement of D1 to 20% of broken rice, 20% of wheat flour and 15% of green banana flour. In the first experiment (performance and fecal microbiota by metagenomics approach) will be used 96 piglets in a randomized blocks design with eight replicates for performance experiment (three animals per pen) and six replications for fecal microbiota (one animal per pen). In the second experiment (in vivo determination of the glycemic response of the diet and plasmatic insulin and urea) will be used 32 weaned piglets in a randomized block design with eight replications (one animal per pen). (AU)