Effects of dietary fiber levels on growth performance,nutrients apparent digestibility,slaughter performance,and volatile fatty acids in Xinjiang Black pigs

ZHU Zhenxin; GENG Mingyang; WANG Fang; NIU Junli; NAN Shanshan; NIE Cunxi

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.12.007

Abstract：The experiment aimed to investigate the effects of different dietary fiber levels on the growth performance,nutrients apparent digestibility,slaughter performance,and cecal volatile fatty acids(VFA)of Xinjiang Black pigs.A total of 36 Xinjiang Black pigs with a body weight of(21.55±4.22)kg were randomly devided into three groups,with six replicates per group and two pigs per replicate(half male and half female).During the growth phase(one to 70 days),the control group(CON group),low-fiber diet group(LF group),and high-fiber diet group(HF group)received diets with neutral detergent fiber(NDF)contents of 9.00％,14.00％and 19.00％,respectively.During the finishing phase(71 to 120 days),the CON group,LF group,and HF group received diets with NDF contents of 10.00％,15.00％and 20.00％,respectively.The pre-test period was seven days and the formal test period was 120 days.The results showed that during the growth phase,the LF and HF groups significantly increased the average daily feed intake(ADFI)(P＜0.05)and significantly decreased nutrient apparent digestibility(P＜0.05).During the finishing phase,the HF group exhibited significantly decreased ADFI,average daily gain(ADG),and nutrient apparent digestibility(P＜0.05),and significantly increased the feed to gain ratio(F/G)(P＜0.05).The LF group significantly increased the concentrations of acetic acid,propionic acid and butyric acid(P＜0.05),and significantly reduced backfat thickness(P＜0.05).The HF group significantly decreased backfat thickness,total carcass weight,eye muscle area,slaughter rate and acetic acid concentration(P＜0.05).The study indicates that 14.00％to 15.00％is the optimal amount of NDF added to promote the growth of Xinjiang Black pigs.The addition amount can promote the production of VFA,improve the growth performance of Xinjiang Black pigs,and increase the lean meat percentage.The addition of 19.00％to 20.00％NDF does not affect growth performance during short-term feeding(feeding cycle＜70 days),but once it exceeds the feeding cycle,it significantly inhibits the growth,reduces nutrient apparent digestibility and carcass quality.