It has been practically proven that high fibre diets have a negative effect on the average daily growth rate of growing pigs and reduce the ability of fattening pigs to build up lean meat. This is caused by impaired nutrient digestibility and energy absorption. However, for weaners, feeding fibre is beneficial because it improves their production performance by improving intestinal health. For example, inulin promotes glucose absorption in the small intestine of piglets after weaning and prevents gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Correspondingly, maize and wheat bran feed improves the average daily gains and feed conversion ratio of weaned piglets due to changes in the intestinal microflora.
Read more about the impact of fibre feeding on piglet performance and sow productivity in the December issue of Profitable Pig Production: Military Digest, no. 6 (72).