Acosta

Soluble dietary fiber, insoluble dietary fiber, and total dietary fiber in feed ingredients used in swine diets

Acosta, Jessica P., Lia Guardiola, Neil W. Jaworski, Hans H. Stein. 2025. Soluble dietary fiber, insoluble dietary fiber, and total dietary fiber in feed ingredients used in swine diets. Journal of Animal Science, Volume 103, Issue Supplement_1, May 2025, Pages 274–275, doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaf102.305 Link to abstract.

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Additive effects of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 and microbial phytase on digestibility of calcium and phosphorus, blood vitamin D>3 metabolites, and bone biomarkers in growing pigs

Jaramillo, Bibiana M., Su A Lee, Jessica P. Acosta, Hans H. Stein. 2025. Additive effects of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 and microbial phytase on digestibility of calcium and phosphorus, blood vitamin D>3 metabolites, and bone biomarkers in growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science, Volume 103, Issue Supplement_1, May 2025, Pages 151–152, doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaf102.162 Link to abstract.

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Nitrogen retention was not different in pigs fed diets supplemented with 65 parts of DL-Methionine or 100 parts of MHA-Ca

Acosta, Jessica P., S. Maria S. Mendoza, John K. Htoo, Hans H. Stein. 2025. Nitrogen retention was not different in pigs fed diets supplemented with 65 parts of DL-Methionine or 100 parts of MHA-Ca. Journal of Animal Science, Volume 103, Issue Supplement_1, May 2025, Pages 99–100, doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaf102.107 Link to abstract.

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25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 and microbial phytase may increase digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in diets fed to growing pigs

Vitamin D regulates a wide spectrum of genes responsible for Ca and P homeostasis and cell differentiation. Cholecalciferol, commonly known as vitamin D3, is a primary source of vitamin D3 in diets for growing pigs; however, it needs to be hydroxylated twice to be active. The first hydroxylation occurs in the liver at the 25-position, resulting in 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D3], whereas the second hydroxylation occurs in the kidneys at the 1-position, resulting in 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D3], which is the active form of vitamin D3 in the body. Supplementation of 25(OH)D3 to diets for sows in late gestation may increase the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and retention of Ca and P, but there are no data to demonstrate this effect in growing pigs.

Cereal grains commonly used in diets for pigs have low digestibility of P because P is bound to phytate. Exogenous phytase increases the digestibility of both Ca and P in pigs by releasing the P from the phytate molecule within the gastrointestinal tract of pigs. However, there is limited information about the interaction between 25(OH)D3 and supplemental phytase in diets fed to growing pigs. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that both 25(OH)D3 and microbial phytase independently and in combination may increase standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of Ca and P by growing pigs.

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Effects of xylanase or a stimbiotic on growth performance and total tract digestibility of nutrients by pigs weaned from sows fed a lactation diet without or with xylanase

Acosta, Jessica P., Gemma Gonzalez Ortiz, Hans H. Stein. 2024. Effects of xylanase or a stimbiotic on growth performance and total tract digestibility of nutrients by pigs weaned from sows fed a lactation diet without or with xylanase. J. Anim. Sci Vol. 102, Suppl. S2. P 87 - 88. doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae102.099 Link to abstract.

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Effect of feeding intact protein from soybean meal instead of crystalline amino acids on growth performance, protein synthesis, and immune response of growing pigs

Cristobal, Minoy, Su A Lee, Andrea P. Mallea, Leidy J. Torres-Mendoza, Jessica P. Acosta, Carl M. M. Parsons, Hans H. Stein. 2024. Effect of feeding intact protein from soybean meal instead of crystalline amino acids on growth performance, protein synthesis, and immune response of growing pigs. J. Anim. Sci Vol. 102, Suppl. S2. P 45 - 46. doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae102.054 Link to abstract.

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What impact does a Stimbiotic have on digestibility when fed to weanling pigs

Acosta, J. P., and H. H. Stein. 2024. What impact does a Stimbiotic have on digestibility when fed to weanling pigs. National Hog Farmer. On-line edition. May 30, 2024. Link to full text.

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Reproductive performance and immune status of sows fed diets containing Olextra 1200 during lactation

The olive oil tree (Olea europaea L.) contains hydrophilic and lipophilic bioactive compounds, which include flavones, phenolic acids, phenolic alcohols, secoiridoids, and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. These bioactive compounds have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, and therefore, olive-derived plant bioactive compounds may reduce chronic inflammation and intestinal integrity in pigs. Therefore, olive-derived plant bioactive compounds, such as Olextra 1200, may improve health and prevent disease by inhibiting B cell activation and cytokine expression. However, there is a lack of data demonstrating effects of olive extracts on reproductive performance of sows and their offspring. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that dietary supplementation of Olextra 1200 increases reproductive performance as well as the immune status of sows.

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Does xylanase impact gestating, lactating sow digestibility?

Acosta, J. P., and H. H. Stein. 2023. Does xylanase impact gestating, lactating sow digestibility? National Hog Farmer. On-line edition. Dec. 21, 2023.

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Xylanase or a stimbiotic increased growth performance and total tract digestibility of nutrients in diets for weanling pigs, but feeding sows xylanase in lactation did not influence pig growth performance after weaning

Acosta, Jessica P., and Hans H. Stein. 2023. Xylanase or a stimbiotic increased growth performance and total tract digestibility of nutrients in diets for weanling pigs, but feeding sows xylanase in lactation did not influence pig growth performance after weaning. XXXVIII Curso de especializacion FEDNA. Pag 327. Link to abstract.

 

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Concentration of Digestible Energy in Corn-Based Diets Fed to Gestating and Lactating Sows is Increased by Adding Xylanase to the Diets

Acosta Medellin, Jessica P., Charmaine D. Espinosa, Gemma Gonzalez Ortiz, Hans H. Stein. 2023. Concentration of Digestible Energy in Corn-Based Diets Fed to Gestating and Lactating Sows is Increased by Adding Xylanase to the Diets. J. Anim. Sci., Volume 101, Issue Supplement 2, Pages 35–36, doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad341.040. Link to abstract.

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Xylanase and a stimbiotic increased growth performance and total tract digestibility of nutrients in diets for weanling pigs, but feeding sows xylanase in lactation did not influence pig growth performance

Arabinoxylans are the predominant fiber component in cereal grains and cereal co-products. They have a backbone of β-(1− 4) linked xylose units with side chains of arabinose, glucuronic acid, acetyl, and phenolic acids. Xylanase hydrolyzes the β-(1− 4) glycosidic bonds between xylose units in the backbone and releases a mixture of xylose and xylo-oligosaccharides that can be either absorbed or fermented by pigs. Previous data indicate that xylanase increased the degradation of dietary fiber and increased energy digestibility in diets for growing pigs and lactating sows. Xylo-oligosaccharides improve growth performance of nursery pigs because they serve as prebiotics that modulate gut microbiota. A stimbiotic (i.e., xylanase in combination with xylo-oligosaccharides) may improve growth performance of weanling pigs to a greater extent than either additive alone by shifting the intestinal microbiome to favor fiber fermentation. However, there are no data on possible effects of xylanase in sows diets on growth performance and intestinal health of the offspring or on the impact of the stimbiotic on digestibility of nutrients when fed to nursery pigs. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that xylanase or a stimbiotic improves growth performance and the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), and total dietary fiber (TDF), and the concentration of digestible energy (DE) of diets for weanling pigs, but that the effect is greater in offspring of sows fed xylanase in lactation than in offspring of sows not fed xylanase.

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Exogenous xylanase increases digestibility of energy and fiber in diets for gestating and lactating sows

Exogenous enzymes may improve the fermentability of dietary fiber in swine diets by hydrolyzing non-starch polysaccharides into oligosaccharides and sugars. In particular, the enzyme xylanase hydrolyzes the β-(1-4) glycosidic bonds between the xylose units in the backbone of arabinoxylans in cereal grains and grain coproducts, resulting in the release of a combination of xylose, arabinose, and xylo-oligosaccharides from arabinoxylans that can be fermented by pigs. Previous data indicate that xylanase increased the degradation of dietary fiber and increased energy digestibility in diets for growing pigs; however, there are limited data for the impact of xylanase on energy and fiber digestibility in gestating and lactating sows. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that exogenous xylanase added to diets for gestating and lactating sows will increase the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of gross energy and total dietary fiber (TDF), and increase the concentrations of digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) during two reproductive cycles.

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Weanling pigs consume more feed if hybrid rye replaces corn in diets, but average daily gain and fecal scores are not impacted by hybrid rye

McGhee, Molly L., Jessica P. Acosta, and Hans H. Stein. 2023. Weanling pigs consume more feed if hybrid rye replaces corn in diets, but average daily gain and fecal scores are not impacted by hybrid rye. Translational Animal Science, 7: 1–10. doi.org/10.1093/tas/txad022. Link to full text.

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Corn protein has greater concentrations of digestible amino acids and energy than low-oil corn distillers dried grains with solubles when fed to pigs but does not affect the growth performance of weanling pigs

Acosta, Jessica P., Charmaine D. Espinosa, Neil W. Jaworski, and Hans H. Stein. 2021. Corn protein has greater concentrations of digestible amino acids and energy than low-oil corn distillers dried grains with solubles when fed to pigs but does not affect the growth performance of weanling pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 2021, Vol. 99, No. 7, 1–12. doi:10.1093/jas/skab175.

A Corn Protein Product Has Greater Concentration of Digestible Amino Acids and Energy Than Low-oil Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles When Fed to Pigs and May Be Used in Diets for Weanling Pigs

Acosta, J. P., C. D. Espinosa, N. Jaworski, and H. H. Stein. 2021. A Corn Protein Product Has Greater Concentration of Digestible Amino Acids and Energy Than Low-oil Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles When Fed to Pigs and May Be Used in Diets for Weanling Pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 99(Suppl. 1): 85–86. doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab054.139. Link to Abstract.

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Digestibility of energy and concentrations of digestible and metabolizable energy in a high protein corn product fed to growing pigs

A new source of corn protein (NexPro) that is produced from the ethanol industry has been developed by Flint Hills Resources (Wichita, KS). NexPro contains approximately 50% crude protein and the digestibility of amino acids was reported in our November, 2020, Newsletter. However, there is at this time no information about the concentration of digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in this new source of protein. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to test the hypothesis that concentrations of DE and ME in corn protein are greater than in 2 sources of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS; i.e., DDGS-1 and DDGS-2) when fed to growing pigs.

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Espinosa, C. D., J. P. Acosta, and H. H. Stein. 2020. Growth performance not sacrificed with corn protein. National Hog Farmer, On-line edition, October, 2020.

Espinosa, C. D., J. P. Acosta, and H. H. Stein. 2020. Growth performance not sacrificed with corn protein. National Hog Farmer, On-line edition, October, 2020. Link to full text.

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