What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to evaluate the impact of enzymes and fermented feed on nitrogen balance, meat quality, and intestinal health in pigs fed a low-protein diet.

February 28, 2026Open Access

Effects of Enzymes or Fermented Feed on Nitrogen Balance, Meat Quality, Intestinal Microbiota Profile and Barrier Functions of Landrace × Rongchang Pigs Fed with a Diversified Low-Protein Diet

Key Points

This research aims to evaluate the impact of enzymes and fermented feed on nitrogen balance, meat quality, and intestinal health in pigs fed a low-protein diet.
Conducted a 5 × 5 Latin square nitrogen balance trial with castrated male pigs.
Performed a growth experiment with 120 Landrace × Rongchang pigs divided into five dietary groups.
Analyzed nitrogen intake, excretion, mRNA expression of key proteins, and meat quality parameters across different diets.
The CON group exhibited higher nitrogen intake and total nitrogen excretion than the other groups.
Fecal nitrogen was reduced in the LP, DLP + CE, and FDLP groups compared to the CON group.
The DLP + CE group showed increased intramuscular fat content compared to the CON and DLP groups.
Fatty acid synthase expression was upregulated in the FDLP and DLP + CE groups; benefits noted in intestinal health markers.

Abstract

Reducing the dependence on traditional protein sources, and decreasing feeding costs and nitrogen emissions, are important tasks in livestock production. A 5 × 5 Latin square nitrogen balance trial (five castrated male pigs) and an animal growth experiment with 120 Landrace × Rongchang pigs were performed and randomly divided into five diets: a normal crude protein level diet (CON); LP diet; diversified LP containing broken rice, rapeseed meal, and DDGS (DLP); DLP + 0.05% cellulase (DLP + CE); and DLP + 20% fermented feed (FDLP). The CON group showed higher nitrogen intake, urinary nitrogen, and total nitrogen excretion than the other four groups (p < 0.05). The fecal nitrogen was decreased with the LP, DLP + CE, and FDLP groups compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of jejunal fatty acid transport protein 1 was upregulated in the LP, DLP + CE, and FDLP groups compared to the CON and DLP groups (p < 0.05). The DLP + CE group showed a higher intramuscular fat content in pigs than the CON and DLP groups (p < 0.05). In the LD muscle, the FDLP and DLP + CE groups upregulated fatty acid synthase expression compared to the LP and DLP groups (p < 0.05). Colonic mRNA expression of zonula occludens-1 and claudin-1 was upregulated in the FDLP group compared to the CON and DLP groups (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the supplementation of cellulase and fermented feed in DLP diets improved nitrogen utilization and intestinal health without compromising growth performance or meat quality in Landrace × Rongchang pigs.

Mark Helpful

Bookmark

Relay

View Full Paper