tailieunhanh - Factors Affecting Small Intestine Development in Weanling Pigs

The pig faces significant biological and environmental challenges after weaning. A great deal of information is available on behavior, environment, health, and nutrition of the newly weaned pig; however, newly weaned pigs still suffer a growth lag. The pig’s small intestinal structure and function is altered during the days that follow weaning. As a consequence, the digestive and absorptive capacity of weanling pigs is decreased during this period and this may be partially responsible for the post weaning growth lag | Animal Science Department Nebraska Swine Reports University of Nebraska 3 Lincoln Year 2001 Factors Affecting Small Intestine Development in Weanling Pigs Steven J. Kitt Phillip S. Millert Austin Lewis - University of Nebraska - Lincoln University of Nebraska - Lincoln pmiller1@ University of Nebraska - Lincoln alewis2@ This paper is posted at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. http coopext_swine 99 Factors Affecting Small Intestine Development in Weanling Pigs Steven J. Kitt Phillip S. Miller Austin J. Lewis1 Summary and Implications The pig faces significant biological and environmental challenges after weaning. A great deal of information is available on behavior environment health and nutrition of the newly weaned pig however newly weaned pigs still suffer a growth lag. The pig s small intestinal structure andfunction is altered during the days that follow weaning. As a consequence the digestive and absorptive capacity of weanling pigs is decreased during this period and this may be partially responsible for the post weaning growth lag. Additionally health benefits may be associated with an improved small intestinal structure and function. The goal of this article is to review some of the potential causes of changes in small intestinal structure and outline some potential nutritional modifications that have been suggested to attenuate the negative changes in small intestinal structure and function. Small Intestinal Changes The lumen inside lining of the small intestine is comprised of very small finger-like projections called villi. Microvilli are micro finger-like projections attached to the villi. The villi and microvilli function to increase surface area that augment the absorptive efficiency of the small intestine. Crypts of Lieberkuhn or simply crypts are tubular depressions found between the villi and are the source of new cells that migrate to the villi. A portion of the digestive and all of the .