At BGU in vitro fibre-microbiota models were created, by carrying out in vitro analyses using both ex-vivo samples generated in the proof-of-concept trial and synthetic communities to identify microbial community interactions with the mannan fiber particles and the derived secondary products.

Further, 2 feeding programmes trial were carried out at NMBU in Norway. In partnership with NORSVIN, first a longitudinal trial was performed that aimed at understanding the relationship between the animal (host), microbiota composition, dietary protein levels and feed efficiency at different developmental stages and intestinal sections. Secondly, a prebiotic trial was performed using fluorescently labelled microbiota-directed fibre with different structural features (e.g. acetylation patterns, branchings), which were designed for specific butyrate producing populations (e.g. Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, Megasphaera) using prior knowledge on unique fibre structures that match enzymatic capabilities of prebiotic targets. Management practices concerning soluble fibre delivery (feed inclusion or dissolved in drinking water) and timing (pre-or post-weaning) were also examined.

Work Package 7 has a total duration of 41 months and is scheduled to be concluded in August 2025.

Milestone 7 has been achieved --> MS7 "Large-scale swine trials accomplished", while Milestone 8 has not yet been achieved --> MS8 "Swine system 3D’omic, multi-omic, and complementary data are generated". 

The outcome of this Work Package are 4 method reports, 2 of which were already shared confidentially within the consortium and with the EC.