The apparent prececal and fecal crude protein digestibility and amino acid absorption of coarse animal feed in fattening pigs

Digestibility experiments were made with nearly full-grown female fattening pigs supplied with large-scale T-cannulae implanted in the distal ileum to collect the digesta in order to test 11, mainly dried and pelleted, kinds of forage plants (9 samples of lucerne cut at different times as well as green rye and whole plants of maize) as supplements to a basic diet. All samples were analysed to their content of HCl-insoluble ash as marker and their content of amino acids (AA). The calculation of the apparent precaecal and faecal crude protein (CP) digestibility and of the absorption values of the essential AA lysine, methionine, cystine, isoleucine, threonine and tryptophan as well as of glutamic acid was carried out according to the difference method. CP digestibility of the experimental diets was precaecally reduced by 5 to 20 and faecally by 3 to 13 units by supplements of at least 25% of the dry matter; for some of the AA the reduction was even bigger and dispersion between the values of the individual animals was essentially increased in comparison with the basic ration. Faecally, the precaecal differences of CP digestibility and AA absorption caused by the various alfalfa samples, are largely blurred. The CP and AA digestibility of the forage plants partly showed very big individual differences between the animals. Precaecally, a CP digestibility of more than 48% could not be ascertained. Similarly to the lysine content, precaecal lysine absorption from the kinds of roughage showed big differences. Whereas the absorption values for methionine of between 60 and 87% were relatively high, those for cystine were mostly very low, often in the negative range. This underlines that normal digestion processes are strongly influenced by high supplements of forage plants so that the constancy of the digestibility of the basic ration must be doubted under these conditions. The bacterial processes in the large intestine greatly level out the differences found precaecally between the various kinds of feedstuffs. The faecal digestibility and absorption values were considerably above those measured precaecally; methionine digestibility only was mostly considerably diminished in comparison with precaecal values due to synthesis in the large intestine. A significant positive correlation could be calculated between the lysine content of the 9 alfalfa samples (4.0 to 6.6 g/16 g N) and the apparent precaecal values of lysine absorption (2.2 to 67.6%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

The effect of exogenous factors on prececal nutrient and amino acid absorption, ascertained from swine with ileo-rectal anastomoses. 3. The effect of crude fiber-rich coarse meal supplements to a basic ration

In digestion trials using pigs fitted with ileo-rectal anastomoses and parallel intact pigs the influence of wheat straw meal (WSM) or grass meal (GM) supplemented on two different levels to a basal diet was examined with regard to nutrient and amino acid digestibility resp. absorption. Both roughages reduced, obviously because of their high cell wall contents, nearly at equal amounts and partly significantly the precaecal as well as the total digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, carbohydrates (= crude fibre + NFE), crude fibre and hemicelluloses (arabinose, xylose). By the roughage supplementations the crude protein digestibility at the terminal ileum was less reduced than at the end of the total digestive tract, the starch digestibility was hardly influenced and that of ether extract mostly increased. In comparison with precaecal glucose and fructose digestibilities it could be shown that the anthrone method is not suitable for determinations of the precaecal digestibility of water soluble carbohydrates. Beside these compounds other substances in the ileum digesta must evidently be dyed by anthrone too. The crude protein digestibility and the amino acid absorption were precaecally hardly or not reduced by WSM supplementations, therefore it can be concluded that it is possible to dilute the energy concentration in diets (e.g. for sows) by addition of WSM without impairing protein digestion and amino acid absorption. The GM supplementations, however, impaired protein digestibility and amino acid absorption of the whole diet, probably caused by the encrusted, possibly heat damaged protein present in the GM itself. When the roughage supplemented diets were fed, the excretion of nitrogen compounds in the faeces was enlarged due to the more intensive bacterial activity in the hind gut and the additional sorption effects to cell wall substances, so that a too low apparent and also true digestibility is made believe. The applicability of the difference method to the calculation of protein and amino acid digestibilities in roughages is very questionable because of their low contents and the missing additivity. The crude fibre and hemicellulose digestibility values calculated by the difference method demonstrate for the both roughages--in spite of high standard deviations--that the precaecal digestibility of crude fibre is about zero and that of the hard lignified hemicellulose fraction in contrast to the predominantly endospermic hemicelluloses of the basal diet is very low. The faecal crude fibre and hemicellulose digestibilities of WSM--especially on the lower supplementation levels--are markedly worse than those of GM.     

Prececal protein and amino acid digestibility and total crude nutrient digestibility of extracts of three rapeseed varieties, ascertained in ileorectostomized and intact swine

The apparent precaecal crude protein digestibility and amino acid absorption as well as the total digestibility of the nutrients organic matter, crude protein, crude fat and crude carbohydrates were determined of rations consisting of barley plus oilmeals of two rapeseed varieties of double quality (DQ) from Canada (Canola) and the GDR as well as of one variety of single quality (SQ) with 10 female pigs weighing between 120 and 140 kg with ileorectal anastomoses (IRA) and 4 intact (INT) female pigs weighing between 150 and 160 kg. The three rapeseed meals (RSM) were furthermore fed to IRA pigs as sole protein source together with protein-free feed. Based on the digestibilities of the crude nutrients determined with INT pigs and calculated with the difference method the energy content of RSM DQ "Canola", DQ GDR and SQ GDR could be calculated as 495, 633 and 500 EFUpig/kg DM (average: 543 EFUpig). The precaecal digestibility of the crude protein of the above mentioned RSM sorts determined with IRA pigs and calculated with the difference method amounts to 73, 76 and 75% resp. and is thus lower than the average absorption of all amino acids. The precaecal digestibilities of crude protein and essential amino acids for the mixtures calculated from the digestibility values of the individual feedstuffs barley and the above mentioned RSM largely agree with the experimentally determined digestibility values, i.e. there is additivity. On an average of the values known from literature for DQ RSM (including our own results), the precaecal digestibility of crude protein amounts to 70, of lysine to 74, of methionine to 82, of cystine to 82, of threonine to 69, of tryptophan to 72 and of isoleucine to 74%.     

Influence of virginiamycin on the digestive physiology in precaecal re-entrant cannulated pigs.

The present experiment was set up to study the effect of Virginiamycin, a nutritional growth promoting antibiotic, on the digestive physiology using precaecal cannulated pigs. The semipurified diet used provided 21% protein and 60% of nitrogen free extract (NFE), 2/3 as starch and 1/3 as lactose. Due the older age of the pigs, the lactose induced some degree of malabsorption as precaecal flow rate of digesta was markedly higher (3.2 kg/d) compared with published data obtained with purified diets without lactose. This was also reflected in the rather low ileal digestibility of the nutrients (%): dry matter 68.6, protein 79.6, fat 78.4 and NFE 75.0. Virginiamycin markedly lowered flow rate (2.2 kg/d) and significantly improved apparent precaecal digestibilities (%): dry matter 74.0, protein 81.4, fat 81.9 and NFE 78.7. The faecal apparent digestibility was comparable with published data. There were no treatment differences indicating that precaecal digestibilities are much more sensitive then faecal ones. In order to explain the differences obtained the mean retention time in the upper intestine was measured. Although significant differences were noted (control: 5 h, Virginiamycin: 6 h) a direct cause-effect relationship was not evident. Also the activity of selected pancreatic enzymes in ileal contents was compared. There were no consistent differences between the two treatments, except for a lower lipase activity during Virginiamycin treatment.     

Precaecal and faecal digestibility of inulin (DP 10-12) or an inulin/Enterococcus faecium mix and effects on nutrient digestibility and microbial gut flora

The aim of the present study was to investigate the precaecal and faecal digestibility of inulin (DP 10-12) and inulin/Enterococcus faecium mix, and the effects of these substances on nutrient digestibility and microbial gut flora. For the experiment four of eight male pigs were fitted with an end-to-end ileo-rectal anastomosis (IRA) with preserved ileo-caeco-colic valve. The residual pigs were used as intact partner (IN). The animals received 1.5 kg/day of a diet based on corn, wheat, barley and soybean meal, supplemented with either 8 x 10(9) CFU E. faecium/kg, 2% inulin or a mixture of both substances. The digestibility trial was carried out from weeks 4 to 8 after surgery. Precaecal digestibility of inulin was assessed to be 57%. The addition of E. faecium to the diet resulted in a similar precaecal digestibility of inulin of 55%. Supplementation of E. faecium, inulin, and a mixture of E. faecium and inulin did not affect precaecal and faecal nutrient digestibility with the exception of the precaecal digestibility of CF which increased when inulin alone was supplemented. Bacterial population in the digesta of IRA and IN pigs were not affected by the experimental diets except the concentration of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. The supplementation of E. faecium to the diet significantly decreased the concentration of bifidobacteria and the population of lactobacilli inclined to decrease when IN pigs received the probiotic diet. The combination of E. faecium and inulin prevented a reduction of enterococci in faeces of IN pigs. The daily digesta excretion (DM) tended to decrease in IRA and IN pigs when inulin was supplemented. The results indicate that inulin (DP 10-12) in pig nutrition did partly react as a prebiotic as has been confirmed for humans. A combination of E. faecium and inulin improves the survival of the probiotic strain through the upper intestinal tract and allocates the synbiotic effect. Furthermore inulin might be able to show positive effects on precaecal and faecal microbial characteristics.     

Effect of exogenous factors on prececal nutrient and amino acid reabsorption, ascertained in swine with ileorectal anastomoses. 1. Effect of the degree of grinding up of grain

Pigs fitted with ileo-rectal anastomoses (IRA) and in parallel experiments intact (INT) pigs were used to estimate the influence of the different grinding fineness of barley and wheat (coarse, medium, fine) on the apparent and true precaecal and total digestibility resp. absorption of various N free and N containing nutrients, among them crude protein and the indispensable and dispensable amino acids. Coarse grinding (25 ... 50% of the particles greater than 2 mm) resulted in significantly lower digestibility values than medium and fine grinding--with more striking differences in barley than in wheat. Precaecally most nutrients and amino acids are distinctly less digestible than at the end of the total tract. The precaecal lysine absorption determined with IRA pigs is remarkably low. The results are discussed. In order to attain a good utilization of the protein contained in cereals grains should be ground in hammermills with maximal sieve meshes of 3 mm. It is proposed to tabulate crude protein and amino acids in future on the basis of a standardized true precaecal digestibility resp. absorption.     

The energetic utilization of rations with dried concentrates, potatoes, sugar beets, apple pectin and cane sugar by growing, intact and ileorectostomized swine. 1. Results in swine with ileorectal anastomoses

Rations with dried feedstuffs and rations with between 30 and 50% raw potatoes in the dry matter as well as steamed potatoes and sugar beets, sucrose and apple pectin were tested in measurings of the total metabolism in growing pigs with ileo-rectal anastomoses. The prececal digestibility of the energy of the rations ranged between 42% (rations with raw potatoes) and 79% (rations with sucrose). The digestibility of the rations with a 50% quota of steamed potatoes was better by 30%--units than that of rations with raw potatoes. In addition to crude nutrient digestibility, data are given on the digestibility of starch, water soluble carbohydrates and pectin. The wide variation in the N retention of 6-25 g/animal.day can only be partly connected with energy retention. Urine energy amounted to between 2.5 and 5% of gross energy. The average utilization of metabolizable energy amounted to 69.4%. A connection is to be seen with the value of energy maintenance requirement of 646 kJ retention energy/kg LW0.62.d.     

The effect of exogenous factors on pre-cecal nutrient and amino acid resorption determined in swine with ileo-rectal anastomoses. 2. The effect of the degree of grinding of plant protein-rich concentrates in rations

In digestion trials using pigs fitted with ileo-rectal anastomoses and intact pigs, the influence of two different grinding finenesses (coarse, fine) of vegetable high-protein concentrates (soya bean meal, field bean, lupin) added to cereal diets was examined. It was found that neither the precaecal nor the total nutrient absorption and digestibility were practically injured, when in the concentrates the particle sizes bigger than 2 mm did not amount more than 20% and whole grains hardly occurred. The investigations concerned the crude putrients, watersoluble carbohydrates and starch as well as the indispensable and dispensable amino acids. The apparent and true precaecal absorption values and total digestibility data for soya bean meal (heat treated), field bean (variety 'Fribo' and yellow sweet lupin (variety 'Bornova'--calculated by the different method--are given and discussed.     

The use of the mobile bag technique in swine. 2. Determination of the apparent and true crude protein digestibility of 15N-labeled feed]

In a series of experiments in two ileo-rectostomized pigs the precaecal apparent and true digestibilities for crude protein of seven 15N-labelled feedstuffs were studied using the mobile bag technique. True digestibility values of crude protein calculated with the help of isotope dilution were 4-14 units higher than the corresponding apparent digestibility values. This is caused by the infiltration of the bag residues with endogenous unlabelled nitrogen. In dependence on the kind of feedstuff the endogenous N portion in the bags amounted to 25-70% of the total N. In addition, the contamination is influenced by differences between the animals (mean 4-7%) and by different treatments of bags after gut passage (3-10%).     

Methodical influences on the determination of prececal digestibility

With ileum-cannulated sows (flexible, large-luminal T-shape cannulas after method of Kesting et al., 1986) the influence of level of intake, individuality of animal and relation of additional feed in the diet on the determination of precaecal digestibility were tested. The results showed that precaecal values of digestibility were affected by method. The authors recommend the isogravimetrical determination (exchange trial) of additional feeds.     

Energetic utilization of sugar beets, dried shreds, sucrose and apple pectin by growing swine. 1. Study overview and composition and digestibility of feed and rations

Total metabolism experiments with a basic ration were carried out over two measuring periods and with a basic ration plus supplements of raw sugar beets, steamed sugar beets, dried sugar beet pulp, sucrose and apple pectin resp. with 4 pigs per test group and 4 test groups (LW 40-135 kg). Live weight gain was approximately equal after the feeding of raw and steamed sugar beets. It amounted to 650 g/animal and day in the first experimental period and to 715 g in the second. After feeding dried sugar beet pulp as supplement the corresponding weight gain was 525 and 565 g/animal and day. In the course of the ontogenetic development up to a live weight of about 70 kg an increase of digestibility could be observed. Adaptation cannot be excluded. This question will be pursued in the following experiments, so that consequences for energetic feed evaluation have to be postponed. For both raw and steamed sugar beets the digestibility of the organic matter was 88%, of NFE 95% and of water soluble carbohydrates 95%.     

Use of sugar beet in porcine nutrition. 1. Effect of various methods of treatment on the gastrointestinal tract

The influence of the size of particles, of steaming and preserving (formic acid) of the sugar beet 'Rosamona' was studied with respect to apparent digestibility and tract parameters. Digestibility measuring only resulted in an improvement for crude protein due to the cutting up into small pieces. Tract measures and fillings, microbial activity and an estimate of the absorption rates of nutrients indicate that the bigger part of fresh and silaged coarse particles is digested in the colon but that the nutrients of steamed (and partly mashed) beets are predominantly pre-caecally digested.     

Prediction of nutrient digestibility in grower-finisher pigs based on faecal microbiota composition

Microbiota play an important role in total tract nutrient digestion, especially when fibrous diets are fed to pigs. This study aimed to use metagenomics to predict faecal nutrient digestibility in grower-finisher pigs. The study design consisted of 160 three-way crossbreed grower-finisher pigs (80 female and 80 male) which were either fed a diet based on corn/soybean meal or a more fibrous diet based on wheat/barley/by-products. On the day before slaughter, faecal samples were collected and used to determine faecal digestibility of dry matter, ash, organic matter, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre and non-starch polysaccharides. The faecal samples were also sequenced for the 16S hypervariable region of bacteria (V3/V4) to profile the faecal microbiome. With these data, we calculated the between-animal variation in faecal nutrient digestibility associated with variation in the faecal microbiome, that is the “microbiability”. The microbiability values were significantly greater than zero for dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre and non-starch polysaccharides, ranging from 0.58 to 0.93, as well as for crude fat with a value of 0.37, but not significantly different from zero for ash. Using leave-one-out cross-validation, we estimated the accuracy of predicting digestibility values of individual pigs based on their faecal microbiota composition. The accuracies of prediction for crude fat and ash digestibility were virtually 0, and for the other nutrients, the accuracies ranged from 0.42 to 0.63. In conclusion, the faecal microbiota composition gave high microbiability values for faecal digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre and non-starch polysaccharides. The accuracies of prediction are relatively low if the interest is in precisely predicting faecal nutrient digestibility of individual pigs, but are promising from the perspective of ranking animals in a genetic selection context.     

Measuring energy turnover in the adult swine during feeding of rations with potato starch, potatoes, beets, pressed shreds and coarse fodder as supplements to a basic ration. 1. Energy turnover and energy utilization

25 rations with a wide variation of the content of various carbohydrates (crude fibre 36-185; water-soluble carbohydrates 25-306, starch 272-683 g/kg DM) were fed to male castrates (n = 8) of a live weight between 90 and 180 kg, and energy metabolism was measured. The rations were composed of a cereal basic ration and various feed-stuffs (potato starch-raw and soaked) potatoes (raw and steamed), sugar beet and products from it, maize pellets, dried roughage lucerne, clover, lupin, grass, rye straw meal) as supplements. The digestibility and metabolisability of the energy of the rations ranged between 88 and 62 or 86 and 60% resp. Between 2 and 4% of the consumed energy were lost in urine. The partial utilization of the metabolizable energy of the rations varied between 80% (processed supplement of potato starch) and 52% (supplement of rye straw). The rations with supplements of dried roughage were relatively well energetically utilized-between 63 and 70%. A regressively calculated difference of 17%-units was regressively calculated between the utilization of metabolizable energy of either precaecal or postileal origin.     

Precaecal phosphorus digestibility of inorganic phosphate sources in male broilers

1. The aim of this study, comprising two experiments, was (1) to determine in Experiment 1 the relationship of incremental dietary P (phosphorus) content on precaecal digestible P in male broilers and (2) to determine in Experiment 2 the precaecal P digestibility of various inorganic P sources at marginal levels of P supply.

2. In Experiment 1, a total of 260 male Ross 308 broilers were divided into groups of 10 birds per pen resulting in 8 replicates for treatment 1 and 6 replicates for treatments 2–4. Experimental diets were formulated to contain 4 incremental concentrations of digestible P by means of increasing concentrations of monocalcium phosphate (MCP). In the second experiment, 480-d-old male Ross 308 broilers were divided in groups of 12 birds per pen resulting in 16 replicates for the basal diet and 6 replicates for each test diet. A total of 4 inorganic P sources, MCP, monodicalcium phosphate (MDCP), dicalcium phosphate (DCP) and defluorinated phosphate (DFP) were added to the basal diet to determine the precaecal P digestibility. Three of the 4 inorganic P sources (MCP, MDCP and DCP) represented a mix of batches from different producers. At the end of both experiments, the chyme of the posterior part of the small intestine was collected. Digestibility of P and Ca was determined using titanium dioxide as indigestible marker.

3. In Experiment 1, a reduction in precaecal digestibility of P was observed above an estimated precaecal digestible dietary P concentration of 4.8 g/kg.

4. The precaecal P digestibility of the tested inorganic P sources in Experiment 2 was 78.3% for MCP, 59.0% for DCP, 70.7% for MDCP and 31.5% for DFP.

     

Physiologic and nutritional studies in pigs with ileorectal anastomoses. 3. Nitrogen retention and utilization following energy an electrolyte supplementation

In order to guarantee an equally good development of ileorectostomized pigs (IRA) used for the determination of precaecal protein digestibility and the absorption of amino acids as for intact animals (INT), the supplementation of their rations with easily soluble carbohydrates and minerals is necessary. The effects of these supplements on live weight development, nitrogen balance and N utilization level were the subject of the assessment of 21 rations with 129 and 117 balance measuring resp. with growing IRA and INT pigs. Without any supplementation of the rations the N balances of the IRA pigs showed significantly lower and partly negative N balances and N utilization levels in comparison to the INT pigs. The combined supplement of easily soluble carbohydrates (100 g/kg DM intake) and 300 ... 400 ml electrolyte solution per day (approximately 1 ... 1.3 g additional Na) resulted in N balances almost equal to those of INT pigs. The supplement of both electrolyte solution and NaHCO3 (approximately 2 g Na per animal and day additionally) to a barley + lysine ration resulted in a significant increase of the N balance and N utilization in IRA pigs of a live weight between 120 and 140 kg in contrast to the control period. A supplement of carbohydrates to a ration consisting of barley + fish meal + grass meal and electrolyte supplements of 400 ml per animal and day only resulted in significantly higher N balances and N utilization levels in the live weight range up to 70 kg in comparison to the control periods, which then corresponded to those of INT pigs. There was no essential influence of carbohydrate supplementations on pigs of more than 70 kg live weight. The postileal digestibility of the crude carbohydrates (CC) of 14 rations calculated from the difference between total digestibility (faecal analysis) and precaecal digestibility (analysis of the ileal chyme of IRA pigs) showed that between 40 and 100 g (70 g on average) out of the 780 g CC per kg DM consumed disappear in the large intestine. These studies show that in the testing of concentrates and mixed feed rations the supplementation of 100 g easily soluble carbohydrates/kg DM intake should be sufficient to guarantee a normal development of IRA pigs. In addition, an oral supply of 1 to 2 g sodium in the form of electrolyte solution exceeding the requirement of INT pigs is necessary as this supplementation significantly improves the N retention of IRA pigs even heavier than 100 kg.     

The Influence of Different Protein,Fat and Mineral Levels on the Digestibility of Fat and Fatty Acids Measured at the Terminal Ileum and in Faeces of Growing Pigs

Abstract

The influence of dietary protein, fat and mineral levels on crude fat and fatty acid digestibility was investigated in growing pigs. The experiment was a factorial design with two levels of protein (normal and high), two levels of dietary fat (3 and 15% of DM) and three levels of minerals (50, 100 and 150% of Danish Standard). Four litters, each of six female pigs, were used in the experiment.

Increasing the dietary protein content resulted in a moderate but significant increase in the ileal digestibility of fatty acids. The increase was most pronounced for the saturated fatty acids. Addition of animal fat to the basal diet caused a substantial increase in ileal digestibility of all fatty acids except stearic acid (18:0). A variation in the dietary mineral content of ±50% of the Danish Standard had no significant influence on ileal digestibility of crude fat and fatty acids. Apparently, microbial hydrogenation occurred in the hind-gut, but the increase in stearic acid (18:0) excretion could not be explained solely by biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids. The interactions between dietary protein and fat on the increase of faecal 18:0 showed that the dietary composition had a very complex effect on the microbial activity in the hind-gut. Consequently, determination of fatty acid digestibility should be performed at the terminal ileum, whereas crude fat (Stoldt) digestibility can be carried out on faecal material.     

The prececal and total intestinal nutrient digestibility and amino acid absorption of food yeasts in swine

In a difference experiment the apparent precaecal (pc) and total intestinal (tot) nutrient digestibility and amino acid (AA) absorption of 5 yeasts (n-alkane yeasts Fermosin and Paprin, molasses/molasses distillers residue yeast, two sulfite waste liquor yeasts) were studied. The two n-alkane yeasts were very highly digested pc, the difference to tot digestibility is only small in most cases. In contrast to this, the pc and tot digestibility values of molasses/molasses distillers residue yeast differed considerably more. The probable reason for this is too hot drying due to which pc digestibility, particularly of the crude protein, and pc AA absorption are considerably reduced. In the two sulfite waste liquor yeasts, sulfite waste liquor residues containing lignin impair especially the crude carbohydrate digestibility and the energetic feed value; the better processing conditions of origin A, however, reduced considerably the negative effects. The results confirm that each yeast origin has its specific particularities, which have to be taken into consideration when they are used in feeding.     

Effect of xylanase supplementation to a cereal-based diet on the apparent faecal digestibility in weanling piglets

The effect of supplementing a cereal-based diet with xylanase on the apparent faecal digestibility was investigated in weanling piglets (9.7 kg body weight). Xylanase supplementation increased the apparent faecal digestibility coefficients of crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, organic matter, nitrogen free extract (NFE) and nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP). The increased apparent faecal digestibility coefficients resulted in a higher energy value of the cereal-based diet supplemented with the xylanase.     

Effect of different fibre types on the digestibility of nutrients in cats

In this study the effect of different fibre types was investigated on the acceptance of foods (in a short-term study) and on the nutrients' digestibility by using 10 adult, castrated cats. Peanut hull (PH, source of lignin), dried sugar beet pulp (SBP, source of hemicelluloses and pectin) and alfalfa meal (ALF, source of cellulose) were mixed to a poultry meat based cat food in 10% on dry matter (DM) basis. The average DM intake did only slightly differ according to the type of fibre added. Supplementation of basal food by dried SBP did not influence the digestibility of DM and crude protein (CP) significantly. Using ALF as a fibre source decreased the digestibility of DM (85.8% vs. 78.6%) and CP (93.8% vs. 92.0%) significantly. More severe decline could be observed in the digestibility of DM (85.8% vs. 63.4%) and CP (93.8% vs. 83.7%) when using PH as a fibre source. Fibre sources also influenced the stool DM content significantly. While application of PH increased the DM content of the faeces (45.0% vs. 49.6%), the use of dried sugar beet or ALF reduced the faecal DM content (45.0% vs. 24.1% and 39.0%, respectively). According to these results the less digestible fibre source (PH) increased the DM content of the faeces while by improving the digestibility of the fibre sources the DM content of the faeces decreased. It can be concluded, that not only the absolute fibre content of the food but also the type of fibre must be taken into account when evaluating its possible role as a component of weight loss products.