Evaluation of fat sources (lecithin, mono-glyceride and mono-diglyceride) in weaned pigs: Apparent total tract and ileal nutrient digestibilities

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of lecithin, mono-glyceride and mono-diglyceride on apparent total tract and ileal nutrient digestibilities in nursery pigs. Twenty [(Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc] barrows were surgically fitted with simple T-cannulas. Dietary treatments included 1) CON (basal diet: soy oil), 2) LO (lecithin 0.5%), 3) MO (mono-glyceride 0.5%), 4) MG (mono-glyceride 1.0%) and 5) MDG (mono-diglyceride 1.0%). In apparent total tract nutrient digestibility, dry matter (DM) and gross energy (GE) digestibilities of MDG treatments were higher than LO and MG treatments (p less than 0.05). In nitrogen (N) digestibility, LO treatment showed the lowest compared to others (p less than 0.05). The digestibility of crude fat was higher in MDG treatment than CON and LO treatments (p less than 0.05). In apparent ileal nutrient digestibility, DM digestibility was higher in MDG treatment than LO and MG treatments (p less than 0.05). GE digestibility was higher in MDG treatment than LO, MO and MG treatments (p less than 0.05). N digestibility of MDG treatment was greater than LO treatment (p less than 0.05). Also, the digestibility of crude fat was higher in MDG treatment than CON and LO treatments (p less than 0.05). In conclusion, mono-diglyceride can increase apparent total tract nutrient and apparent ileal nutrient digestibilities of DM, GE, N and crude fat.