Issue |
Reprod. Nutr. Dev.
Volume 42, Number 4, July-August 2002
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Page(s) | 339 - 354 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/rnd:2002030 |
DOI: 10.1051/rnd:2002030
Small intestine growth and morphometry in piglets weaned at 7 days of age. Effects of level of energy intake
Julia Mariona, Marzena Biernatb, Françoise Thomasa, Gérard Savarya, Yves Le Bretona, Romuald Zabielskib, Isabelle Le Huërou-Lurona and Jean Le Dividichaa Unité Mixte de Recherches sur le Veau et le Porc, INRA, 35590 St-Gilles, France
b The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jablonna, Poland
(Received 8 April 2002; accepted 2 July 2002)
Abstract
Two trials involving a total of 56 pigs were conducted to examine the effects
of weaning at 7 d of age (trial 1) and of energy intake level and length of
post-weaning underfeeding period (trial 2) on small intestinal (SI) development
and morphometry. At 3 d after weaning, weight of the SI and mucosa (g/kg body weight)
and villous height along SI were reduced by 20, 36 and 41%, respectively, compared
to the day of weaning. Intestinal morphometrical changes are dependent on SI site
and days post-weaning. Villous atrophy on d 3 and recovery on d 14 post-weaning were
greater and occurred earlier in the proximal than in the medial and distal SI. Villous
height was dependent on the level of energy intake which explains 56% of the variations
in proximal SI villous height in weaned pigs and 73% when data of the sow-reared pigs
were included in the analysis. Moreover, after 4 d of refeeding, underfed piglets
showed similar villous characteristics to piglets fed a continuously high feeding
level after weaning stressing that capacities of intestinal restoration were not
affected by the length of the post-weaning underfeeding period. Overall, the present
results suggest a spatial and temporal effect of weaning on villous atrophy and recovery,
and that the level of energy intake is a major factor accounting for the post-weaning
villous height.
Key words: weaning / level of food intake / small intestine / morphometry / piglet
Correspondence and reprints: Jean Le Dividich
e-mail: didi@st-gilles.rennes.inra.fr
© INRA, EDP Sciences 2002