The Digestibility of Ration Nutrients by Three- vs. Seven-Week Old Pigs

The average apparent digestibility of the dry matter, energy, crude protein and ether extract of a dry early-weaning pig ration was higher for 7- than for 3-week old pigs. The greatest difference occurred in the ether extract fraction. Age of pig had no significant effect on carbohydrate digestibility. A progressive decrease in the apparent digestibility of fat was noted when the mean molecular weight of the contained fatty acids increased. This decrease was accentuated in the case of the younger pigs. The results indicated that a marked change in the digestive ability of the young pig takes place prior to 8 weeks of age.