A total of 720 one-day-old, broiler chickens were randomly distributed to 3 dietary treatments for 42 days: a control basal diet (PC); PC reformulated to reduce AME and digestible amino acids by 70 kcal/kg and 1.5% respectively (NC); and NC + 500 mg/kg of LEX (NC+LEX). Each group consisted of 20 pens with 13 birds each. Birds were fed starter (1-10d), grower (11- 21d), and finisher (22- 42d) diets. Birds from PC and NC+LEX compared to birds from NC: during 1-10d, showed lower FI (P = 0.0209), higher BWG (P = 0.0137) and better FCR (P G 0.001); during 11-21d, showed lower FI (P G 0.001), higher BWG (P = 0.001) and better FCR (P G 0.001); during 21-42d, showed better FCR (P = 0.0177); and during 1-42d showed lower FI (PC, 5194 vs. NC, 5333 vs. NC+LEX, 5161 g; P G 0.001), higher BWG (PC, 3317 vs. NC, 3165 vs. NC+LEX, 3278 g; P = 0.001) and better FCR (PC, 1.568 vs. NC, 1.686 vs. NC+LEX, 1.575; P G 0.001). Ileal fat digestibility was higher in birds from PC and NC+LEX than in birds from NC (PC, 91.39 vs. NC, 87.70 vs. NC+LEX, 92.52%; P G 0.001). The IOFC of NC+LEX treatment was 17.5 and 161.4 & euro;/1000 birds higher than PC and NC, respectively. In conclusion, the study shows that adding LEX to broiler diets reduced in AME and amino acids improved growth performance, fat digestibility, and profitability.

Full-fat rapeseed (FFRS) has potential as a sustainable ingredient in monogastric animal nutrition requiring no extensive processing. This study evaluated the effects of grinding and pelleting on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal health of pigs fed diets containing FFRS. Forty-eight castrated male weaned piglets were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments in a 2 & times; 3 factorial design, varying by feed form (mash or cold-pelleted) and rapeseed particle size (whole, coarse, or fine ground). The experiment lasted 28 days, with FFRS included at 5% during the first 14 days and increased to 10% thereafter. Pelleting significantly improved final body weight, daily weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) during both the first period (0-14 days) and the entire trial (0-28 days) (P<0.001), whereas grinding had no significant impact on performance outcomes. Apparent ileal digestibility (AID) coefficients of dry matter, valine, and most non-essential amino acids were significantly enhanced by pelleting (P <= 0.05), excluding cysteine and glutamic acid. Pelleting also increased liver weight, ileal digesta pH, ammonia content, and reduced digesta viscosity (P <= 0.05). Grinding alone influenced only the liver weight to body weight gain ratio (P <= 0.033) and caused minor changes in ileal histomorphology. Pelleting significantly increased the concentration of acetic acid in the cecal and colon digesta. In conclusion, pelleting of FFRS-based diets improved growth parameters and nutrient utilization of feed mixtures by weaned piglets, with minimal influence from grinding level in terms of particle size. These findings support the strategic use of raw FFRS in pig diets and highlight the role of physical processing in enhancing its nutritional value.

We evaluated the addition of Hermetia illucens larvae (BSFL) fat to broiler diets compared to that of soybean oil (SO), rapeseed oil (RO), palm oil (PO), palm kernel fatty acid distillate (PKFD), poultry fat (PF), pig lard (PL), and beef tallow (BT) on performance, meat quality, and cecal microbiota abundance. BSFL addition reduced the feed conversion ratio compared to PO, PF, and BT addition and improved nutrient digestibility at 14 days and 28 days of age. BSFL addition enhanced broiler immune responses compared with SO, PO, and PL by increasing IgA levels; compared to PO by increasing IgG levels; and compared to PL by increasing IgY and IL-6 levels. Moreover, broiler free triiodothyronine levels increased when BSFL was added. Reduced drip loss after 7 days was observed in the RO, PO, PF, PL, and BT groups, while the salt-induced water uptake in the PL group was greater than that in the BSFL group. Compared with the SO group, BSFL addition increased C18:3 and overall n-3 FAs in breast meat. BSFL fat in broiler diets leads to outcomes that are more similar to those of plant oils than to those of animal fats, particularly regarding nutrient digestiblity and immune response.

This study aimed to evaluate the validity of estimated apparent metabolizable energy (AME) regression models for Hermetia illucens ( HI) larval fat in broiler chicken diets during various feeding periods. Additionally, it investigated the effects of HI larval fat on selected serum biochemical, immunological, and humoral indices. The experiment involved 300 7-day-old male Ross 308 chicks assigned to two dietary groups (15 replicate pens). The trial lasted 28 days and the following treatments were applied: a basal diet enriched with soybean oil (SO) or larval fat (HI) as the sole source of dietary fat energy, respectively. To obtain an equal energy value of both diets, the AME values for SO and HI were set as follow: 34.2 and 37.54 MJ/kg (7-14 days), 38.4 and 37.72 MJ/kg (15-28 days), and 37.1 and 37.70 MJ/kg (29-35 days), respectively. No differences in body weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio were observed between the treatments. However, increased coefficients of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID) of crude protein and apparent ileal digestible energy (AIDE), with elevated lipase activity, were recorded in the HI treatment. The inclusion of insect fat led to reduced serum immunoglobulin G and thyroxine (T4) concentrations. Moreover, the HI group showed a decreasing trend in aspartate aminotransferase, free T4, and interleukin 6 levels. In conclusion, the regression models for HI larval fat used in broiler diets proved to be effective. Additionally, insect fat demonstrated superiority over SO in promoting favourable CAID of crude protein and AIDE. Furthermore, HI may contribute to improved liver function and immune status of birds, as well as affect thyroid hormone metabolism.

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of emulsifier and/or carbohydrase additives on the production performance of growing pigs offered a diet with a high proportion of white lupine seeds cv. Butan. The experiment involved 49 Naima x P76 male piglets with an initial body weight of 10.5 kg divided into seven groups. The control group was fed a diet without any additives, whereas the remaining groups received diets with the addition of emulsifier, beta glucanase, and beta-xylanase separately or in combination. The apparent ileal digestibility coefficients of crude protein were significantly improved ( P < 0.05) by all additives, although no significant differences were observed in dry matter and ether extract digestibility (P > 0.05). Both to the performance results and ammonia concentration, pH, and digesta viscosity (P > 0.05), were not different when these feed additives were used. The most promising effects on nutrients digestibility and performance were obtained were emulsifier, beta-glucanase and their blend were added to the feed mixtures.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the rumination time on milk yield and composition as well as methane emission during lactation in high-yielding dairy cows fed a partial mixed ration based on maize silage without pasture access. A total of 365 high-yielding Polish Holstein-Friesian multiparous dairy cows were included in the study covering 24 to 304 days of lactation. Methane emission, rumination time, and milk production traits were observed for the period of 12 months. Next, the data from the cows were assigned to three groups based on daily rumination time: low rumination up to 412 min/day (up to 25th rumination percentile), medium rumination from 412 to 527 min/day (between the 25th and 75th percentile), and high rumination above 527 min/day (from the 75th percentile). Rumination time had no effect on milk yield, energy-corrected milk yield, or fat and protein-corrected milk yield. High rumination time had an effect on lower fat concentration in milk compared with the medium and low rumination groups. The highest daily CH4 production was noted in low rumination cows, which emitted 1.8% more CH4 than medium rumination cows and 4.2% more than high rumination cows. Rumination time affected daily methane production per kg of milk. Cows from the high rumination group produced 2.9% less CH4 per milk unit compared to medium rumination cows and 4.6% in comparison to low rumination cows. Similar observations were noted for daily CH4 production per ECM unit. In conclusion, a longer rumination time is connected with lower methane emission as well as lower methane production per milk unit in high-yielding dairy cows fed a maize silage-based partial mixed ration without pasture access.

Background This study aimed to evaluate spexin as a novel blood marker and to describe the relationship of this peptide with selected biochemical metabolites measured during the transition period in dairy cows. Additionally, mRNA expression of the spexin gene as well as spexin receptors – galanin receptor type 2 and galanin receptor type 3, was investigated in several bovine tissues. Blood samples were collected at weekly intervals starting at 21 days before the estimated parturition day until 21 days in milk to determine concentrations of spexin, nonesterified fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate acid, total and active ghrelin, progesterone, glucose, insulin, IGF–I, triglycerides, cholesterol, leptin, corticosterone and 17-β-estradiol as well as the activity of aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase. Results Spexin concentration decreased from 21 d before parturition to calving day and next it rose during the first 14 d of lactation. The lowest concentration of spexin was recorded on the calving day and it differed from the mean level of this peptide before parturition as well as postpartum. Moreover, differences were observed between mean spexin concentrations before and after calving. Spexin levels were moderately negatively correlated with NEFA ( r = − 0.39) and total ghrelin contents ( r = − 0.41), weakly correlated with BHBA ( r = − 0.35) while they showed a moderate positive relationship with progesterone concentrations ( r = 0.42). Moreover, we detected that mRNA expression of GALR2, GALR3 and SPX is present in various bovine tissues (kidney, bowel, rumen, spinal cord, lung, skeletal muscle, liver, heart, fat and spleen). Conclusion A negative correlation between spexin concentration and NEFA, BHBA and total ghrelin contents as well as a positive relationship with levels of progesterone, metabolites and hormones, which are key players in the dairy cow transition period, may confirm an important function of this peptide in metabolism regulation. Thus measurement of spexin concentration could provide useful supplementary information for dairy cow herd health monitoring.

The aim of this study was to: (1) provide controlled fermentation of narrow-leafed lupine seeds; (2) monitor seed composition, and (3) determine the influence of fermentation on the performance, gut environment and physiology, and selected blood metabolic parameters, in young pigs. Firstly, the effect of 24 h lupine seed fermentation by bacteria and yeast on seed chemical composition was determined. It increased contents of crude protein, crude fiber and ash, but reduced nitrogen-free extractive levels. The amino acid profile of fermented lupine (FL) was similar to that of raw lupine (RL) seeds, whereas the contents of oligosaccharides and P-phytate decreased significantly, in contrast to alkaloids. In fermented feed, pH dropped from 5.5 to 3.9. In the 28-day experiment, 24 male pigs were divided into three groups. The control group was fed a soybean meal diet (SBM), whereas in the experimental diets, 50% of SBM protein was replaced by RL or FL. Afterwards, eight pigs from each group were euthanized and their digesta and blood samples were collected. The FL use did not affect pigs’ performance, nor their metabolic, microbial and most gastrointestinal tract parameters, but influenced crypt depth. Fermentation affected concentrations of short chain fatty acids and p-cresole in the proximal colon segment. In the small intestine, the levels of acetate and butyrate decreased, and, in the caecum, the propionate level decreased. Fermentation significantly lowered the pH of the middle colon digesta and ammonia contents compared to RL. A part of SBM may be successfully replaced by RL and FL in young pigs’ diets.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of propylene glycol and maize grain content by-pass starch supplementation during the transition period and the first 56 days of lactation on blood metabolic indices, milk production and fertility parameters in dairy cows. Seventy-five Polish Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were assigned to treatment 21 days before calving. The treatments included: TG—2.5 kg triticale grain/cow per day supplemented from 14 days prepartum to day 56 postpartum, PG—2.5 kg triticale grain/cow per day supplemented from day 14 before parturition to day 56 postpartum, and 400 g propylene glycol/cow per day from 14 days prepartum to 14 days of lactation and MG—2.5 kg maize grain/cow per day supplemented from day 14 before parturition to day 56 postpartum. PG and MG had an effect resulting in the highest glucose concentration at 28 d of lactation. Cows assigned to the PG and MG groups had significantly higher cholesterol levels confronted with TG group at day 14 of lactation, while at days 28 and 56 the same difference was observed only between the MG and TG groups. PG had an effect on shortening the period to first ovulation. PG and MG improved the first service conception rate and decreased the number of services per conception in cows. In conclusion, both treatments of dairy cows with PG and MG improved their fertility parameters, while they had a slight effect on their metabolic profile and no effect on their milking performance.

Abstract For several years in Europe, there has been a growing interest in the use of native sources of protein (e.g. lupin seeds) in poultry nutrition. The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a microbial phytase in broiler diets with the addition of different levels of white lupin seeds. A total of 480 one-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly divided into six dietary treatments (10 replications/8 birds per group). The basal diet contained SBM as the main protein source and experimental treatments were prepared with white lupin meal (WLM) at 3 levels (0, 10, and 20%) and with or without phytase inclusion. The experiment was divided into two feeding periods: from 1 to 14 days (starter) and from 15 to 35 days (grower). Diets with phytase addition were deficient in Ca and non-phytate P. All diets were fed in mash form and offered ad libitum. On day 35 excreta were collected and on day 36, ten chickens from each group were euthanized and blood, tibia, and digesta samples were collected for further analysis. The 20% addition of WLM negatively increased the content of phytic-P. The results showed that feed conversion ratio (FCR) and body weight gain (BWG) were not affected by phytase inclusion but by the WLM level alone. In addition, birds fed the diet with 20% WLM were characterized by having the lowest BWG and the highest FCR of all groups. There were no significant differences in feed intake (FI) among chickens fed control and experimental treatments. Regardless of the white lupin level addition, phytase addition improved (P<0.001) nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEN). In conclusion, the addition of phytase positively influenced the performance and availability of minerals (Ca and P) regardless of the level of WLM used. However, with regard to the use of WLM in poultry nutrition, it can be assumed that 10% addition is safe and does not affect performance.

Four dairy cows in a positive energy balance were used to study the effect of propylene glycol supplementation variants on blood indices. The treatments were: without glycol, glycol mixed with the total mixed ration (TMR), glycol delivered as top dressing (TD), and glycol administered as an oral drench (OD). Oral drenching had the positive effect of higher blood insulin concentration 1.5 and 2.5 h after supplementation compared to the TD method (P ≤ 0.05). Glycol supplemented as TD had the negative effect of higher concentration of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) 3.5 h after supplementation (P ≤ 0.05) with a trend towards a higher mean concentration of this marker (P ≤ 0.1). A decreasing tendency was recorded for the NEFA concentration 1.5 h after glycol supplementation with TMR or OD (P ≤ 0.1). Glycol supplemented as OD had the positive effect of lowering the β-hydroxybutyric acid concentration 1.5 and 2.5 h after feeding (P ≤ 0.05). A downward trend in the mean β-hydroxybutyric acid level after glycol delivery as OD was also observed (P ≤ 0.1). Glycol supplemented as TD had the negative effect of decreasing dry matter intake of the diet (P ≤ 0.05). Glycol supplemented as OD had a more glucogenic effect than as part of the TMR. Due to reduction of dry matter intake and the lowest glucogenic effect, using glycol as TD is unjustified. The results confirm that the best method of propylene glycol administration is OD, which can be useful in the prevention of ketosis, however, it should be confirmed in a long-term experiment covering the transition and early lactation periods.

In this study, the effect of grinding or pelleting of rapeseed on the digestibility, apparent metabolisable energy (AME(N)), growth performance and gizzard weight of broiler chickens was evaluated. In Exp. 1, four treatments were tested (240 broiler chickens, 20 replications, 3 birds per cage). Birds received either a basal diet or were fed with rapeseed of different sized particles (fine, medium and coarse ground, respectively). In Exp. 2, 10 treatments were assessed (360 chickens, 12 replications, 3 birds per cage), where five different diets (a basal diet and four diets with intact rapeseed, fine ground, medium ground or coarse ground rapeseed, respectively) were fed non-pelleted or pelleted. In Exp. 3, two treatments were compared (224 broiler chickens, 14 replications, 8 birds per floor pen): fine ground rapeseed (FG) and intact rapeseed (IS). Compared with medium and coarse ground rapeseed, fine grinding increased in Exp. 1 the AME(N) of rapeseed and the precaecal digestibility (PD) of dry matter and ether extract (EE) (p < 0.05). In Exp. 2, the content of AME(N) and the PD of EE and crude protein (CP) increased as the degree of grinding increased when diets were not pelleted (p < 0.01). In contrast, the significantly highest values for these parameters were measured after pelleting without effect of grinding, resulting in a significant interaction between pelleting and grinding (p < 0.001). In Exp. 3, performance of chickens was not affected by dietary treatments, but gizzard weight and the PD of CP were higher when IS were included in the diet (p < 0.05). The results suggested that fine grinding may be used to increase the feeding value of full-fat rapeseed for broiler chickens. Nevertheless, pelleting of diets with rapeseed seemed to be much more effective in the reduction of particle size than grinding.

Under fertilization levels specific to intensive farming, the impact of compensation of soil nutritional value by arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) might be limited. Therefore, the question arises whether modern crop varieties, selected for high NPK assimilation rate, are able to gain symbiotic benefits under other challenging field conditions, such as drought. Accordingly, in this study we aimed to evaluate the contribution of Rhizophagus irregularis to the drought response of a stay-green corn hybrid in pot cultures equally fertilized until silking, compared to non-mycorrhizal (NM) counterparts. The highest tested fertilization regime not detrimental to the long-term vitality of intraradical hyphae reached the levels recommended for field cultivation of silage corn, except phosphorus application restricted to 60%. Under normal watering, mycorrhiza increased leaf nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition but only in cultures supplied with low NPK levels. At high fertilization levels, only the older leaves retained AM dependency, whereas for other leaf positions the AM-NM differences were leveled out. The similar size and nutritional status of highly fertilized AM and NM cultures, used in this study, eliminated fungal benefits before and during the 2-week drought progression. Nevertheless, mycorrhizal contribution became evident at the time of renewed watering, when AM plants showed much faster reversal of drought-induced leaf senescence symptoms: impaired photosynthesis and nitrogen management. Our results suggest that mycorrhiza can alter drought-induced senescence even in stay-green mutants. Moreover, this effect was apparently not mediated by AM-improved growth but triggered by activation of fungal transport at the time of recovery. Interestingly, the fungal protective potential was shown to be preserved at the expense of lowering AM vesicle number. It can be interpreted as engagement of hyphal nutritional resources targeted to maintain the symbiotic relationship despite the reduced vitality of the host. Finally, we compared the productivity of AM and NM cultures subjected to short-term drought at silking time and further fertilized with moderate or high NPK doses until the grain-filling stage. The yield and nutritive value of green forage showed that alleviation of drought-induced senescence by AM was not sufficient to have a significant positive effect on the final productivity compared to NM plants.

The objective of the study was to investigate the metabolic, health and production consequences of selected pre-calving feeding strategies. Forty Polish Holstein-Friesian multiparous dairy cows were dried off at day 56 before parturition and assigned to 2 pre-calving treatments: CON - a 5-week far-off period and a 3-week close-up period, and SHORT - a 7-week far-off period and a 1-week close-up period with a fresh transition diet. Shortening the close-up period had no effect on body condition score during the dry period; however, a tendency to the lowest body condition score (BCS) losses were observed in the SHORT group during the first 56 days of lactation (P = 0.13). Cows from the SHORT group tended to have higher glucose concentration 3 days before calving (P = 0.13). Shortening the close-up period resulted in a higher insulin level (P = 0.04) and lower concentration of 8-hydroxybutyric acid in the blood 28 days after parturition (P = 0.03). Cows from the SHORT group were characterized by a higher concentration of triiodothyronine 3 days before calving (P = 0.03) and tended to have a higher level of thyroxine 5 days after parturition (P = 0.09). A tendency to higher yield of energy corrected milk (P = 0.09) and fat content in milk was observed in the SHORT group (P = 0.11). There were no differences between treatments in terms of reproductive performance. Simplification of the transition period management and shortening of the close-up period led to a positive tendency to increase the yield of energy corrected milk, with no negative effect on the metabolic status and reproductive performance of dairy cows.

It is well known that orexins are involved in the metabolism and endocrine function of rodent adipocytes, but there are no data on other animal species, including pigs. Therefore, in this study, we tested the hypothesis that orexin A (OxA) and orexin B (OxB) modulate the metabolism and endocrine functions of isolated porcine adipocytes and adipose tissue explants. Moreover, we characterized the possible mechanism of OxA action in porcine adipocytes. According to the results, both orexin receptor 1 and orexin receptor 2 were expressed in the porcine adipose tissue. We found that OxA suppressed the release of glycerol from porcine adipocytes both in the absence (basal lipolysis; P < 0.05) and in the presence (stimulated lipolysis; P < 0.05) of isoproterenol. Orexin A increased basal and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (P < 0.05), as well as it enhanced the rate of glucose incorporation into lipids with insulin (stimulated lipogenesis; P < 0.01) or without insulin (basal; P < 0.05). We have also shown that OxA stimulated the mRNA expression of glucose transporter 4 (P < 0.05) and its translocation into the plasma membrane (P < 0.01). Moreover, OxA upregulated the mRNA expression of leptin in isolated porcine adipocytes (P < 0.05) and increased the secretion of leptin (P < 0.05). We have also demonstrated one of the possible mechanisms of OxA action in adipocytes. In the presence of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) inhibitor, the effect of OxA was not detectable in porcine adipocytes, which indicates that this peptide increased cell viability via ERK1/2 pathway (P < 0.05). However, OxB did not show any effect on the metabolism and endocrine functions of porcine adipocytes. In summary, we have shown for the first time that OxA has a significant impact on the intensity of lipolysis, glucose uptake, lipogenesis, as well as on the expression and secretion of leptin. Therefore, we conclude that OxA but not OxB regulates lipid metabolism in porcine adipose tissue and that this regulation is partly mediated via ERK1/2 pathway. The action of orexins should be further explored to better understand their role in the regulation of adiposity in pigs.

Stimulation of lactate utilization by Selenomonas ruminantium and Megasphaera elsdenii may help in reducing problems associated with rumen acidosis. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae live culture and Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products on in vitro growth and fermentation of lactate-utilizing ruminal bacteria, S. ruminantium (ATCC 19205) and M. elsdenii (ATCC 25940). The cultures were run for 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h under anaerobic conditions on a growth medium supplemented with a yeast live culture (SC) or with yeast fermentation products (SCFP) and, as reference, on the same medium without supplementation (CON). Neither SC nor SCFP had a significant effect on the growth of S. ruminantium after 6, 12 and 24 h of incubation, but the live yeast culture significantly (P≤0.05) improved the growth of these bacteria after 48 h of incubation. The yeast fermentation products significantly (P≤0.05) decreased pH and increased lactate synthesis by S. ruminantium. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae live culture significantly improved the growth of M. elsdenii after 12 and 24 h of incubation, and the S. cerevisiae fermentation products increased its growth after 48 h. The After 24 and 48 h of incubation the Saccharomyces cerevisiae live culture reduced the concentration of total volatile fatty acids (VFA), while caproate was the main product of in vitro fermentation of M. elsdenii (P≤0.05). Saccharomyces cerevisiae live cultures may improve microbial fibre fermentation in the rumen by maintaining optimal pH conditions.

The effect of soya bean meal (SBM) substitution in the diet with white lupine (WL) seeds on performances and some parameters of the digestive tract of pigs were studied. The digestibility experiment was performed on 30 pigs using difference method combined with marker method, where one group was offered basal diet and in diet of experimental groups 25% of the basal diet was substituted with SBM or WL meal. The growth experiment was conducted on 48 pigs of approximately 20 kg body weight. The animals from the control group were fed with diet containing SBM, whereas in the experimental groups 50% or 100% of SBM was substituted with WL seeds. At the end of the experiment, eight pigs from each group were euthanized, and digesta and tissues were sampled. The apparent total tract digestibility of crude protein and dry matter was higher (p < 0.05), but crude fibre and ether extract were lower (p < 0.05) in the WL seeds than in SBM. Substituting 50% of SBM in the control diet with WL seeds did not affect significantly pig performance. Total substitution of SBM with WL seeds impacted negatively pigs growth and feed intake (p < 0.05), but it did not affect the length of villi and crypt depth. It also significantly increased ileum digesta viscosity and ammonia concentration in the ileum and caecum digesta. In the ileal digesta of animals offered WL seeds, an increased (p < 0.05) total bacterial and Enterobacteriaceae numbers were found, whereas reduced number of yeast and mould was found in the caecal digesta. The substitution of 50% SBM with WL seeds in the growing pig diet did not affect pigs' results, but the total substitution significantly decreased the performance of pigs and affected intestinal ecology.