Research Objective

• Include various levels of canola meal in the diet of nursery pigs to see the effect on enterotoxigenic E. coli growth and illness through two measures:
  • Insoluble fiber which is proposed to stop post-weaning diarrhea and leaves less time for E. coli to grow in the gut
  • Glucosinolates which have anti-microbial and antioxidant properties
• Also to observe the changes in pig composition, weight, and growth fed different feedstuffs with canola meal and see if there are any negative effects

Project Description

Currently, E. coli causing gut toxicity (enterotoxigenic E. coli, also known as ETEC) in nursery pigs causes problems in the pork industry and is being treated using antibiotics. Demand for treatment that won't lead to antibiotic-resistant microorganisms has increased in both the scientific and consumer markets. Canola meal in the diets of nursery pigs is the possible solution. When canola meal is included in their diets, it has two main potential benefits: a) the insoluble fiber will diminish diarrhea and growth of ETEC in the pig gut b) the high glucosinolate content has anti-microbial and antioxidant properties. The economic benefits of including canola meal in nursery pig feed is that it will decrease gut issues in nursery pigs, increase demand for canola product while decreasing the cost of pig feedstuffs, and increase demand for pork products. This study looked at canola meal in feedstuffs in two ways: first, on the physical size, composition, and nutrient absorptive capacity of pigs fed different levels of canola meal in their corn-soybean meal based basal diet; second, control of E. coli growth in the gut by measuring gut damage. Both insoluble dietary fiber and glucosinolates have negative dietary effects in too great of concentrations which is why the levels at which they are added into the diet need to be adjusted for maximum positive effect without their negative effects on growth performance.