/ feed intake, incidence of diarrhoea and ileal and total tract nutrient digestibility,
/ except the feed conversion ratio which was reduced (P = 0.033).
/ Jejunal villus length and crypt depth did not differ between groups (P > 0.05) but increased age-dependently (P = 0.003 and P < 0.001, respectively).
/Feeding EF did not markedly influence brush border enzyme expression or activity.
/ Enzyme activity increased (SUC, MAL) or decreased (LAC, IAP) with age reflecting maturation and adaptation to creep feed (P < 0.001).
/ The gene expression of SUC, SGLT1 and IAP changed over time (P = 0.012, P = 0.003 and P = 0.013).
/Furthermore, gene expression was not affected by treatment.
/ The current study suggests that EF did not markedly affect physiological variables associated with digestive function.
/ Age of piglets seems to be the main factor determining function and morphology of the jejunal tissue,
/ reflecting both maturation and adaptation to creep feed.