# Influence of Sugar Beet Pulp Supplementation on Pigs' Health and Production Quality
## 1 Introduction  
Feed usually contains ingredients from different countries and production systems [1; 2; 3]. Whilst some of them may consist of simple supply chains, others may involve many transactions between farmers and producers, and the total number of transactions related to a single product is likely to be high [4; 5]. Local food supply chains are often considered to be sufficiently sustainable, mainly because they support mixed and organic farming and reduce emissions and the externalities of long-distance transport [6; 7]. Local food supply chains are also valued for their ability to create rural businesses and build rural communities by dismantling agribusiness monopolies and creating links between man and nature [8; 9]. Rising cereal flour prices are forcing pork producers to look for alternative feed materials [10; 11]. Many alternative feed materials contain more fibre than the traditional feed stock they replace; therefore, their inclusion increases the amount of dietary fibre [12; 13]. Increased dietary fibre is a concern because the ability of young pigs to digest fibre is limited [14; 15]. Sugar beet pulp (SBP), which is the co-product of sugar beet processing, with a global production of up to 189 mln tons in 2021/2022, is a fibre-rich feed [16]. It should be noted that SBP contains similar gross energy and crude protein contents compared to corn grains [17]. Additionally, SBP contains fibre that is fermentable, has a high water-binding capacity and can alter the physical and chemical properties of the digestive tract, thus affecting feed intake and animal growth [18; 19; 20]. The fermentation of dietary fibre, such as SBP, in the gut promotes the multiplication of bacterial populations such as those of _Lactobacillus_ and _Bifidobacterium_, which are generally considered to be beneficial to intestinal health, in part by preventing colonisation by opportunistic pathogens [20; 21]. A lower risk of gastric ulcers has also been observed, as well as improved colonic mucosal integrity [22]. All of this helps to strengthen the digestive system and prevent diarrhoea [5]. Therefore, the promotion of gastrointestinal health is expected to improve performance. Conversely, more cases of diarrhoea and colitis have sometimes been reported in weaned piglets, such as in the cases of soluble fibre supplements that increase gastrointestinal viscosity [23]. Some authors have observed that the dilution of energy in fibrous diets, faster intestinal motility and decreased ingestion due to early satiety have impaired productivity [24]. Additionally, diets rich in dietary fibre can have a positive effect on pig intestinal health and meat quality [25; 26]. As with intestinal health, the effects on workability may vary depending on the origin and type of fibre [27]. Dietary fibre components are not digested by endogenous digestive enzymes and are therefore the main substrates for bacterial fermentation in the distal intestine [28]. The main fermentation products are short-chain organic acids, mainly lactate, acetate, propionate and butyrate [29]. Organic acids have been suggested to stimulate gastrointestinal growth by promoting epithelial cell proliferation [30]. In an acidic environment, organic acids can inhibit the growth of intestinal bacterial pathogens such as _Salmonella_, _E. coli_ and _Clostridium species_[31]. Changes in the intestinal microflora can affect the technological composition of pork meat, and its profile of volatile compounds (VC) and organoleptic properties can change, which can lead to the acceptability of the organoleptic properties of meat [32; 33]. Although a considerable number of studies have analysed the influence of a fibrous diet on animal health and performance, the reported findings are contradictory due to different experimental conditions, differences in animal age and variations in the content and type of fibre source in the diet. Moreover, the effect of a fibrous diet, especially with SBP, on pork quality has not been comprehensively examined.