A diet containing dried chicory root does not protect against post-weaning diarrhoea in an E. coli challenge model using piglets weaned at 7 weeks of age

This study aimed to investigate whether fructan from dried chicory root provided protection against E. coli induced post-weaning diarrhoea in an experimental challenge model. Piglets from 6 litters, 8 piglets per litter, were included in the experiment. Starting 10 d prior to weaning, 4 piglets per litter received a control diet (0.9% fructan of DM) and 4 piglets received an experimental diet containing 20% dried chicory root (11.6% fructan of DM). The piglets were weaned at 7 weeks of age. On d 2 and 3 post-weaning half of the piglets were orally challenged with E. coli O149, the remaining piglets were given 0.9% NaCl using the same procedure. Faecal samples were collected on the day prior to weaning and on d 2–6 and 12 post-weaning for determination of dry matter. Furthermore feed intake and body weight gain was determined. The faecal DM was lower in inoculated pigs, irrespective of diet, on d 4 and 5. Body weight gain and feed intake was not influenced by either E. coli challenge or diet. However, feed conversion ratio was lower in pigs fed the chicory diet during d 0–12 post-weaning. This experiment did not provide evidence for a protective effect of fructan on post-weaning diarrhoea.