Effects of dietary water holding capacity and level of fermentable organic matter on digesta passage in various parts of the digestive tract in growing pigs

The effect diet composition on digesta passage over three sections of the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) was studied in growing pigs. A control diet (C diet) and three diets differing in the contents of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and water holding capacity (WHC) were fed. Results showed a mean transit time (MTT) over the whole GIT over all diets of 75 h. NSP significantly (P <0.05) decreased MTT over the total GIT and through the large intestine. In contrast, NSP tended to increase the MTT of the stomach contents (P <0.10). The effects of WHC were limited to tendencies for a decrease of the MTT in the large intestine (P <0.10) and an increase of the MTT in the small intestine (P <0.10).