Fiber in Animal Nutrition

This booklet presents in 5 chapters the last available research published by the scientific community on the effects of dietary fiber on animal feeding and production. The informat ion provided gives in depth information on how dietary fiber contributes to ameliorate animal health andwelfare of pets and domestic animals. Available data indicate that the improvements observed with the inclusion of additional fiber are due primarily to a physiological response of the animals, with better development of the gastrointestinal tract. A more functional digestive tract helps in the control of the growth and prof ile of the microbial population, resulting in productivity benefits. A great part of the book is dedicated to evaluate the structure, chemical composition, and physical characteristics of the different sources of fiber available in the market. The data help to understand why different fiber sources result in distinct effects in the physiology and normal function of the digestive tract of pets and domestic animals. Dietary f iber is a key component in companion pet foods, with important benefits on satiety and eating behavior of the animals, as well as on teeth and mouth health. Also, dietary fiber play an important role in the improvement of the consistency and structure of the stools. As a result, the use of the adequate type of fiber will help in the control of obesity and in the reduction of certain pathologies, especially in senior cats and dogs. The effects of dietary fiber on optimizing gastrointestinal tract function in rabbits and ruminants have been accepted for long by feed formulators. In fact, most diets for these species include a requirement for a minimal Preface Gonzalo G. Mateos amount of fiber. In contrast, dietary fiber was considered an antinutritional factor in diets for pigs and poultry, with negative effects on palatability and feed intake as well as on nutrient digestibility. Consequently, most nutritionists in these species formulated diets with a maximum amount of crude fiber, especially in young animals. Recent studies conducted in poultry and in pigs have shown consistently that these species, although for different reasons to those of pets, rabbits, and ruminants, might also need a minimum level of dietary fiber for optimal gastrointestinal health and function. However, the information available on the re- commended physico-chemical characteristics of the fiber sources to improve digestive tract function and animal growth and welfare is limited. Consequently, it is not easy to make a sound recommendation on the minimum amount of fiber required by these species under practical commercial situations. In particular, factors such as age, management conditions, and health status of the animal, as well as type and level of fiber source used, might affect these recommendations. The information provided by the new booklet demonstrates that the judicious selection of the source and level of fiber of the diet results in benefits for the animal with reduced aggressiveness, better consistency of the excreta, and improved anima l welfare. Consequently, animal welfare and productivity, and the quality of the end products will improve. The reading of this publication will allow nutritionists to better understand the utilization of dietary fiber in diets for all types of domestic species. © ERLING Verlag