[Influence of purified cellulose level in the diet of pigs on intestinal absorption of volatile fatty acids].

Nutrient and volatile fatty acid (VFA) absorption to portal blood was measured twice at 7 days interval in five pigs fed a semi-synthetic diet containing 6 (R6) or 16% (R16) purified cellulose for 21 or 7 days. The daily absorption (24 hrs.) of VFA in the large intestine which was larger (NS) when the cellulose level rose, increased significantly (P less than 0.05) with increasing length of adaptation (21 to 28 d.) to the diet whatever the cellulose level. The supplementary daily supply of energy in the form of VFA after increase of the cellulose level did not compensate for the corresponding deficit of absorption of reducing sugars and crude protein in the small intestine.