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We studied the digestion of fat and fatty acids in diets containing oils with different fatty acid composition. Four barrows (initial weight 35 kg) were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the terminal ileum. Three wheat starch and fish meal-based diets were formulated to contain either 150 g fish oil, rapeseed oil or coconut oil/kg. A basal diet, which did not contain oil, was also prepared. The diets were fed according to a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Each experimental period comprised 5 d adaptation to the diets, 3 d fecal collection and 2 d digesta collection. The apparent ileal and fecal digestibilities of fat were relatively high (88 - 93%). The ileal digestibilities of total, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids did not differ among the diets. However, the digestibilities of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the fish and rapeseed oil diets were higher (P < 0.05) than in the coconut oil diet. The ileal digestibilities of 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3 in the rapeseed oil diet ranged from 94 to 97%. The ileal digestion of the unsaturated long-chain fatty acids 20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3) in the fish oil diet was nearly complete (97 - 98%). Apparent fecal digestibilities of saturated fatty acids (76 - 89%) were lower than apparent ileal digestibilities (89 - 94%). The digestibilities of fat and fatty acids were relatively high when pigs were fed diets containing fish oil, rapeseed oil or coconut oil. There were few differences in the digestibilities of saturated, monounsaturated and PUFA in the fish oil, rapeseed oil or coconut oil diets.

The purpose of this study was to establish, using a flooding dose of L-[ring 2, 6-(3)H] phenylalanine, whether feeding pigs diets that induce high endogenous gut nitrogen losses (ENL) also increases protein synthesis rates in (PSR) the visceral organs. Twelve 18-kg Yorkshire barrows with catheters in the right and left jugular veins were fed for 3 wk either casein-cornstarch- (CC) or barley-canola meal- (BCM) based diets formulated to a similar digestible energy /crude protein ratio and designed to induce either low or high ENL, respectively. Pigs were infused with 10 mL/kg body weight of a 150 mmol. L(-1) phenylalanine solution containing 230 MBq. L(-1) labeled phenylalanine for 12 min and killed 20 min later. Plasma phenylalanine specific radioactivity (SRA) rose to a plateau value within 3 min of starting the infusion and did not change (P > 0.10) thereafter. Fractional rates of protein synthesis (K(s), %/d) based on SRA in plasma- or intracellular-free phenylalanine did not differ (P > 0.10) in all tissues except pancreas (P < 0.05). Diet affected K(s )in liver (P < 0.01) and colon (P < 0.05) but not in pancreas, duodenum, jejunum and cecum. Based on plasma-free phenylalanine SRA, liver K(s)were 85.4 +/- 11.0 vs. 60.5 +/- 5.2 (mean +/- SEM) in CC- and BCM-fed pigs, respectively; these values were 82.3 +/- 4.7 vs. 98.2 +/- 5.8 in the colon. The absolute amount of protein synthesis (g.d(-1)) was higher in the liver (P < 0.05) and pancreas (P < 0. 05) of the CC pigs compared to BCM pigs. No dietary effects were observed in all other organs (P > 0.10). The present results suggest that feeding growing pigs a BCM diet that induces high ENL does not affect PSR in the small intestine of growing pigs from which >50% of ENL originates.

Two experiments were performed to study the effect of feeding diets containing oils with different fatty acid composition on exocrine pancreatic secretions in growing pigs using two different methods to collect pancreatic juice. In the first experiment, three barrows (initial weight 37 kg) were fitted with a pancreatic pouch re-entrant cannula. An isolated pouch was prepared where the pancreatic duct enters the duodenum. In the second experiment, also using three barrows (initial weight 32 kg), a catheter was inserted into the pancreatic duct. Three wheat starch and fish meal-based diets were formulated to contain either 15 g fish oil, rapeseed oil or coconut oil/100 g. In both experiments, the diets were fed according to a 3 times 3 Latin square design. The volume of pancreatic juice secreted, pH and secretion of bicarbonate, protein, amylase, trypsin, lipase and colipase were not significantly affected by the diets in the first experiment. In the second experiment, chymotrypsin secretion was significantly greater in pigs fed the coconut oil diet, and secretion of carboxyl ester hydrolase was significantly higher in pigs fed the fish oil diet. When compared qualitatively, pigs in Experiment 2 secreted more pancreatic juice; the pancreatic juice had a higher pH, and trypsin, carboxyl ester hydrolase and colipase secretions were substantially higher whereas amylase secretion was lower than for pigs in Experiment 1. The fatty acid composition of the different oils had minor effects on exocrine pancreatic secretion in growing pigs. However, there were considerable differences between the two surgical methods used to collect pancreatic juice, and these differences may be explained by physiological changes induced by the two methods.

A study was performed to investigate the effect of environmental temperature and increasing levels of protein in the diet on visceral organ size, digestibility, protein balance and energy metabolism in rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats, initial body weight 77-80 g, were used in a factorial design consisting of three levels of dietary protein and two environmental temperatures of either 18 or 28 degrees C. Three fish meal-based diets were prepared to contain 91, 171 and 262 g protein (N X 6.25/kg diet). Gas-exchange measurements were made and urine and feces were quantitatively collected. The weights of the visceral organs from rats housed at 18 degrees C were greater (P < 0.05) than those of rats housed at 28 degrees C. The digestibilities of dry matter and protein were not affected by environmental temperature, whereas fat and energy digestibilities were higher (P < 0.05) at 18 degrees C than at 28 degrees C. As the level of protein was increased, the digestibilities of protein, energy and fat increased (P < 0.05). Protein intake and protein retention were higher at 18 degrees C (P < 0.05) than at 28 degrees C and increased (P < 0.05) as dietary protein concentration increased. Apparent biological value was lower (P < 0.05) at 18 degrees C than at 28 degrees C and decreased (P < 0.05) as dietary protein level increased. Heat production as a percentage of metabolizable energy was higher (P < 0.05) for the low protein diet than for the medium and high protein diets. The efficiency of energy utilization was depressed (P < 0.05) for the high protein diet when rats were kept at 28 degrees C. The results suggest that thermogenesis was induced when low protein was fed. The increase in thermogenesis may have been important in regulating energy balance and maintaining a constant body temperature in a cold environment.