Dietary fiber is partitioned into soluble and insoluble fractions. Corn cobs consist mostly of insoluble dietary fiber whereas sugar beet pulp contains a substantial amount of soluble dietary fiber in addition to insoluble fiber. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feed intake and fiber type on nutrient digestibility in pigs. In the first experiment, dietary treatments were a corn-soybean meal-based diet, a 30% sugar beet pulp diet, and a 15% corn cob diet. The diets were provided at a level close to free-access feed intake or one-half amount of feed intake. The diet containing sugar beet pulp or corn cobs had less energy and nutrient digestibility. Fiber in the sugar beet pulp diet was most digestible among the diets. Reduced feed intake prolonged digesta passage time and increased fiber digestibility. In the second experiment, ileal-cannulated pigs were fed identical experimental diets as the first experiment. Reduced feed intake increased total tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber in the diet. Sugar beet pulp had greater total tract digestibility and hindgut disappearance of energy and fibers compared with corn cobs. Overall, feed intake reduction resulted in increased fiber digestibility in the diet. Sugar beet pulp had greater energy and fiber digestibility compared with corn cobs.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.