Weaning represents one of the difficult physiological and dietary transitions within the piglet’s life. The transition from a liquid, extremely digestible eating regimen to a strong, grain-rich one happens whereas the digestive tract remains to be creating, inflicting physiological and metabolic vulnerability (Pluske, 2016).
Throughout lactation, gastric pH is regulated by lactic acid produced by lactose fermentation (Cranwell et al., 1968). Nonetheless, after weaning, endogenous manufacturing of hydrochloric acid is restricted, inflicting a rise in abdomen pH to values shut to five.0 (Kidder and Manners, 1978). This elevated pH reduces pepsin exercise, which is essential to protein digestion, and favors pathogen proliferation (Longland, 1991; Bolduan et al., 1988).
On this context, the significance of Acid Binding Capability (ABC) arises, significantly ABC-4, outlined because the quantity of acid needed to cut back the pH of 1 kg of feed to 4.0. This threshold favors optimum pepsin exercise and microbiological management within the gastrointestinal tract (Lawlor et al., 2005).
ABC-4 values range throughout components. They’re excessive in minerals equivalent to calcium carbonate and zinc oxide, in addition to in plant-based proteins equivalent to soybean meal. Warner et al. (2022) have proven enhancements in manufacturing efficiency by decreasing components that elevate ABC-4.
Use of ABC-4 in piglet diets
Because it was proposed by Jasaitis et al. (1987), quite a few research have proven that diets with low ABC-4 favor a extra acidic gastric pH. Bolduan et al. (1988) and Clean et al. (1999) reported advantages in protein digestibility and lowered diarrhea. Subsequently, analysis by Lawlor et al. (2005) and Gómez-Conde et al. (2012) bolstered the affiliation between low ABC-4 and improved weight achieve, feed conversion, and digestive well being.
Evolution of ABC-4 in numerous manufacturing phases
A piglet’s hydrochloric acid manufacturing capability will increase with age, permitting the ABC-4 of diets to be progressively elevated. Substances equivalent to cereals have low ABC-4 values (43-147 mEq/kg), whereas minerals equivalent to calcium carbonate (18,384 mEq/kg) and zinc oxide (21,863 mEq/kg) have a major alkalinizing influence (Stas et al., 2022).
In business follow, the first post-weaning phases use diets with low ABC-4 (Part 1 and Part 2), step by step rising in pre-starter feeds (PS-1 and PS-2) to values near 400 mEq/kg, reflecting an adaptation to the piglet’s digestive growth (Graph 1).
Substances that elevate ABC-4
The ABC-4 of the eating regimen relies upon instantly on the components used. Minerals equivalent to zinc oxide and calcium carbonate are primarily chargeable for rising the full ABC-4, even at low inclusions. Different components which have a major influence embody dicalcium phosphate and vitamin and mineral premixes. Concerning proteins, animal-based meals have excessive values, as does standard soybean meal, whereas fermented soybean meals have significantly decrease values, representing a good possibility for decreasing ABC-4. Alternatively, cereals preserve low ABC-4 values, making them most popular components for diets with low alkalinizing influence.
By understanding which components elevate ABC-4, we will develop efficient methods for decreasing it in formulations. Desk 1 reveals the ABC-4 of some generally used components in piglet diets (mEq/kg).
Desk 1. ABC-4 of some components utilized in piglet diets (mEq/kg). (Tailored from Stats et al., 2022 and Lawlor et al., 2005.)
| Ingredient | ABC-4 (Stas et al., 2022) | ABC-4 (Lawlor et al., 2005) |
|---|---|---|
| Corn | 84 | 111 |
| Sorghum | 110 | – |
| Wheat | – | 108 |
| Barley | 77 | 113 |
| Soybean meal | 602 | 642 |
| Extruded soybeans | 567 | – |
| Soy protein focus | 737 | – |
| Fermented soybean meal | 207 | – |
| Beet pulp | 151 | 191 |
| Fish meal | 1380 | 738 |
| Bovine plasma | 713 | – |
| Spray-dried serum | 440 | – |
| Skim milk | – | 756 |
| Permeate | 520 | – |
| Lactose | 53 | – |
| Calcite | 18384 | 12932 |
| Zinc oxide | 21863 | 16321 |
| Monocalcium phosphate | 73 | – |
| Dicalcium phosphate | 2693 | 3098 |
| Salt | 15 | 83 |
| Sodium bicarbonate | – | 12566 |
| Vitamin premix | 10767 | – |
| Mineral premix | 7867 | – |
| Choline chloride | 40 | 101 |
| L-lysine | 83 | 123 |
| Dl-methionine | 137 | 192 |
| L-threonine | 160 | 218 |
| L-tryptophan | 120 | 179 |
| L-valine | 193 | – |
| Fumaric acid | – | -10862 |
| Formic acid | – | -13550 |
| Citric acid | – | -56.5 |
| Lactic acid | – | -7214 |
| Acetic acid | – | -5079 |
| Propionic acid | – | -2283 |
Methods to cut back ABC-4
Varied dietary methods can cut back the ABC-4 of diets:
- Partial substitution of soybean meal: Utilizing fermented or enzymatically handled soy protein concentrates considerably decreases the ABC-4 of the eating regimen (Stas et al., 2022).
- Discount/withdrawal of pharmacological zinc oxide: This follow not solely reduces ABC-4 but additionally complies with well being laws in a number of international locations.
- Options to calcium carbonate: Decreasing or partially substituting with different calcium sources improves the gastric atmosphere, as demonstrated by Warner et al. (2022).
- Strategic use of acidifiers: Incorporating natural acids equivalent to formic, citric, or lactic compensates for the alkalizing impact of sure components.
Relationship between ABC-4 and productive efficiency
Quite a few research assist the optimistic relationship between ABC-4 discount and piglet productive efficiency. Batononon-Alavo et al. (2016) and Warner et al. (2022) evidenced improved each day weight achieve and feed effectivity by means of methods that cut back ABC-4.
A number of mechanisms could clarify these optimistic results. A decrease gastric pH favors:
- Elevated protein digestibility: By enhancing pepsin exercise.
- Higher intestinal well being: By lowering the chance of infections and diarrhea.
- Elevated gastrointestinal growth: By selling the manufacturing of digestive enzymes and the expansion of intestinal villi.
- Optimistic modulation of the intestinal microbiota: Selling helpful micro organism.
Nonetheless, you will need to acknowledge that the connection between ABC-4 and productive efficiency is influenced by a number of elements, equivalent to animal well being standing, environmental situations, and total eating regimen composition. Collectively, these enhancements could clarify the will increase noticed in each day weight achieve and feed effectivity reported in numerous research.
