The use of dietary fibers in pig nutrition is linked from the outset to the need to modify expensive cereal-soybean diets by valorizing by-products including fibrous raw materials. For this, it was necessary to better characterize the nature and composition of the fibers: from the measurement of crude cellulose to soluble and insoluble NSP (Non-Starch Polysaccharides). Many studies have been undertaken to determine their optimal conditions of use in pig formulas, as fibers are the primary factor in reducing the digestibility of net energy and can prove to be, when in excess, a diluent of nutrient intake and an antinutritional factor. But it is also and above all the essential nutrient improving the digestive process, the balance of the microbiota and the health of the piglet at weaning.
The quality of fibers in many regions of the globe limits their use due to the risks of mold and contamination with mycotoxins. The use of toxin sensors and/or healthy sources of fiber is then strongly recommended.