Exclusion of pancreatic exocrine secretion from intestine in the pig: existence of a digestive compensation.

The apparent digestibility of a diet was studied over a period of 87 days after ligature of the pancreatic duct, in the growing pig. Sham operated pigs were used as controls. Feces and urine collections were made during three periods of 10 days each. Mean daily gain of sham operated pigs was higher (560 g/day) than that of pancreatic duct ligated pigs (421 g/day), throughout the experiment. Within the first period (15-24 days after ligature), the apparent digestibility of nitrogen was most affected (-35.6%) while that of energy decreased by 12.1% as compared to values obtained in sham operated pigs. Nitrogen retention was similar in all pigs. Between the 1st (15-25 days) and the 3rd period (78-87 days) after exclusion of the pancreatic secretion from intestine, the apparent digestibility of nitrogen increased by 20% and that of energy by 6%, which might suggest digestive compensation. At the end of the experiment, weights of empty small intestine and liver were significantly higher in the pancreatic duct ligated pigs. The origin of the digestive compensation is discussed.