Research Pigs
Inulin for pigs from Jerusalem artichoke (Topinambur) is proving highly effective in feed formulations. This prebiotic fiber, also found in chicory, is increasingly used to modulate gut microbiota, improve feed efficiency, and support overall health. Combining inulin supplementation with maternal fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in sows shows promising results in enhancing piglet performance and welfare through microbial transfer.
1. Inulin for Pigs and Feed Efficiency
• Combining FMT in sows with inulin supplementation in piglets significantly improves feed efficiency and alters gut microbial composition, demonstrating the benefits of early-life microbial programming (McCormack et al., 2019).
• Dietary inulin enhances growth performance, gut barrier integrity, and beneficial bacterial populations, while reducing harmful microbes such as E. coli in weaned pigs (Wang et al., 2020).
2. Inulin for Pigs: Gut Microbiota and Digestive Health
• Inulin for pigs shifts microbial communities in both sows and piglets, improving intestinal microbiota diversity and immune function in young pigs (Paßlack et al., 2015; Barszcz et al., 2016).
• When used alone or combined with additives like betaine or organic acids, inulin modulates bacterial populations throughout the gastrointestinal tract (Metzler-Zebeli et al., 2009).
3. Odor and Waste Reduction
• Inulin reduces the excretion of odor-causing and acidifying compounds in growing pigs (Rideout et al., 2004).
• Chicory fructans, a form of inulin, lower skatole levels in backfat of male pigs, improving meat quality and reducing unpleasant odors (Aluwé et al., 2017).
4. Reproductive and Digestive Health in Sows
• Inulin, especially combined with isomalto-oligosaccharide, alleviates constipation and improves reproductive performance in pregnant sows by regulating gut motility hormones, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and fecal microbiota (Yu et al., 2021).
Conclusion
Inulin supplementation, particularly with maternal FMT, is a powerful tool in modern pig production. It:
• Improves feed efficiency
• Enhances gut microbiota diversity
• Reduces odor emissions
• Supports digestive and reproductive health
These benefits make inulin a valuable feed additive for both sows and piglets, contributing to higher productivity and improved animal welfare.
References
• McCormack UM, Curião T, Metzler-Zebeli BU, Wilkinson T, Reyer H, Crispie F, Cotter PD, Creevey CJ, Gardiner GE, Lawlor PG. Improvement of Feed Efficiency in Pigs through Microbial Modulation via Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Sows and Dietary Supplementation of Inulin in Offspring. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2019 Oct 30. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31519656/
• Rideout TC, Fan MZ, Cant JP, Wagner-Riddle C, Stonehouse P. Excretion of major odor-causing and acidifying compounds in response to dietary supplementation of chicory inulin in growing pigs. J Anim Sci. 2004 Jun. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15216994/
• Metzler-Zebeli BU, Ratriyanto A, Jezierny D, Sauer N, Eklund M, Mosenthin R. Effects of betaine, organic acids and inulin as single feed additives or in combination on bacterial populations in the gastrointestinal tract of weaned pigs. Arch Anim Nutr. 2009. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26967952/
• Wang W, Chen D, Yu B, Huang Z, Mao X, Zheng P, Luo Y, Yu J, Luo J, Yan H, He J. Effects of dietary inulin supplementation on growth performance, intestinal barrier integrity and microbial populations in weaned pigs. Br J Nutr. 2020 Aug 14. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32216845/
• Paßlack N, Vahjen W, Zentek J. Dietary inulin affects the intestinal microbiota in sows and their suckling piglets. BMC Vet Res. 2015 Mar 7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25889573/
• Aluwé M, Heyrman E, Theis S, Sieland C, Thurman K, Millet S. Chicory fructans in pig diet reduce skatole in back fat of entire male pigs. Res Vet Sci. 2017 Dec. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28686947/
• Yu X, Fu C, Cui Z, Chen G, Xu Y, Yang C. Inulin and isomalto-oligosaccharide alleviate constipation and improve reproductive performance by modulating motility-related hormones, short-chain fatty acids, and feces microflora in pregnant sows. J Anim Sci. 2021 Oct 1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34487146/
• Barszcz M, Taciak M, Skomiał J. The effects of inulin, dried Jerusalem artichoke tuber and a multispecies probiotic preparation on microbiota ecology and immune status of the large intestine in young pigs. Arch Anim Nutr. 2016 Aug. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27216555/