The effect of Yucca schidigera extract (YSE; 10.8% saponins) on in vitro caecal disappearance (IVCD) was tested by incubating pre-digested feed with 0, 150, or 300 mg YSE/kg using caecal inocula from male and female pigs (Experiment 1). The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and fermentation products were assessed in vivo in 40 crossbred finishing pigs fed with 0 or 300 mg YSE/kg for 42 days (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, YSE did not affect IVCD or gas production, but reduced caecal ammonia-N across sexes (p 0.10), but reduced the ATTD of crude protein (p < 0.001) and organic matter (p < 0.001) relative to the control diet. YSE selectively modulated in vitro caecal fermentation in pigs, but these effects were not confirmed in vivo.
Santoru et al. (2026) studied this question.