Evaluation of dietary fructan supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, fecal microbial flora, and fecal noxious gas emission in finishing pigs.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary fructan supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, fecal microbial flora, and fecal noxious gas emission in finishing pigs. A total of 96 finishing pigs [(Yorkshire×Landrace)×Duroc] with an average BW of 73.1±2.5 kg were used in a 6-wk study. Pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments: 1) CON, basal diet, 2) CON+1% fructan (FC1), and 3) CON+2% fructan (FC2) with 8 replicate pens per treatment and 2 barrows and 2 gilts per pen. During the overall study, pigs fed the fructan supplementation diets had a greater (P<0.05) ADG, G:F, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM and GE than pigs fed the CON diet. The levels of fructan supplementation did not affect growth performance and ATTD of DM, N, and GE. Fecal E. coli concentrations in the fructan treatments were lower (P<0.001), while fecal Lactobacillus concentrations in the fructan treatments were greater (P<0.001) compared with the CON treatment. Fecal ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions were lower (P<0.05) in d 3, 5, and 7 in the fructan treatments, and total mercaptans emission was lower (P<0.05) on d 3 and 5 compared with the CON treatment. In conclusion, fructan supplementation improved growth performance and ATTD of DM and GE, improved the fecal microbial balance, and inhibited the fecal E. coli. Furthermore, fructan may decrease fecal noxious gas emissions by finishing pigs.