Effect of diet particle size and feeding of H2-receptor antagonists on gastric ulcers in swine

Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of diet and the administration of H2-antagonists in feed on gastric ulcer formation and performance of growing-finishing swine. Pigs receiving a finely ground diet (less than lmm) grew faster (.73 vs .68 kg/d, P less than .01) and had better feed utilization (3.47 vs 3.76, P less than .01) than pigs receiving a cracked corn-based diet. Incidence of ulcers in the esophageal region of the stomach of pigs fed the finely ground diet was greater (P less than .01) than in pigs fed cracked corn. The average daily gain of pigs receiving the finely ground diet was inversely related to ulcer incidence (r = .403, P less than .01, df = 59). The addition of 5, 10, 20 or 100 ppm of the H2-antagonist, metiamide, or 6, 18 or 54 ppm of SK&F 93479 to the finely ground diet did not improve pig performance or affect the incidence of gastric ulceration. The addition of 2, 6 and 18 ppm of SK&F 93479 to a corn-soy diet containing 4.5% alfalfa meal caused a reduction in gastric ulceration (P less than .05) and improved feed utilization by 3.2% (P less than .05). These data suggest that finely ground diets improve the performance of growing-finishing swine, but increase the incidence of ulcers in the esophageal region of the stomach. Severe gastric ulceration adversely affects swine performance. Feeding H2-antagonists does not reduce the ulcerogenic properties of finely ground diets, suggesting factors other than gastric acid secretion are involved in ulcerogenesis. The use of H2-antagonists in corn-soy diets improves feed utilization and reduces ulceration.     

Growing-finishing performance and carcass characteristics of pigs fed normal and genetically modified low-phytate corn

A genetically modified corn hybrid homozygous for the lpa1 allele, containing low phytate (LP), and its nearly isogenic equivalent hybrid (normal) were compared in two experiments with growing-finishing swine. In Exp. 1, 210 barrows (27 kg) were allotted to one of six dietary treatments with two corn hybrids (LP and normal) and three P feeding regimens. There were five replicate pens (seven pigs/pen) per treatment. Treatments consisted of diets that were supplemented with P throughout the growing-finishing period (.2% P and .15% supplemental P during growing and finishing phases, respectively) or only during the growing phase (.2% supplemental P) or that were not supplemented with P throughout the growing-finishing period. Performance at the end of the growing phase was based on a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with two corn hybrids and two levels of added P (0 and .2%). This resulted in 10 replicates for the treatments supplemented with .2% P. The finishing phase (73 to 112 kg) was a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments with the two types of corn and three regimens of added P during the finishing period. Breaking load (BL) and ash of the fourth metacarpal were evaluated from one pig/pen at the end of the growing phase and from all pigs after slaughter. Pigs fed the LP corn diet without added P had greater body weight gain, feed efficiency, BL, and ash content of the fourth metacarpal than pigs fed the normal corn diet without added P. Performance was similar between pigs fed the LP diet without added P and pigs fed LP and normal corn with added P. In Exp. 2, 1,092 gilts (34 kg body weight) were allotted by weight in a commercial facility to one of three treatments: 1) normal corn/soybean meal diet containing .29% and .22% available P during the growing and finishing phases, respectively; 2) LP corn/soybean meal diet with the same available P level as Treatment 1; and 3) same as Treatment 2 for 8 wk, then no inorganic P supplementation during the finishing phase. All pigs were slaughtered at approximately 122 kg. There were no significant differences in growing-finishing performance or BL among treatments. However, pigs fed diets containing LP corn possessed carcasses with less backfat and a higher percentage of lean (P < .01). These results confirm that the P in LP corn is available to the pig and suggest that pigs fed diets containing this genetically modified corn will have more desirable carcasses.     

Effect of dietary supplementation with vitamin C or carbadox on weanling pigs subjected to crowding stress

A 2 X 3 factorial arrangement was used in each of two trials with two levels of floor space allowance (.25, .13 m2/pig) and three dietary treatments (basal, basal + 660 ppm vitamin C, basal + 55 ppm carbadox). The reduction in floor space allowance was achieved in trial 1 by doubling the number of pigs/pen from eight to 16 and in trial 2 by reducing the size of pens by half. An 18% protein starter diet was used as the basal diet. Total numbers of pigs used were 216 in trial 1 and 144 in trial 2. Pigs were weaned between 4 and 5 wk of age (7.5 kg average wt) and fed ad libitum for 28 d. Reducing floor space allowance caused a (P less than .05) reduction in weight gain of weanling pigs in both trials. When the reduction of floor space allowance was done by increasing number of pigs/pen (trial 1), pigs responded with a significantly reduced feed intake with no change in efficiency of feed utilization. However, when floor space allowance was reduced by changing the size of the pen (trial 2), feed intake of pigs was not affected but efficiency of feed utilization was reduced significantly. Neither form of crowding affected vitamin C concentration in adrenal glands and weights of adrenal glands, spleen and thymus. Dietary supplementation of carbadox, but not vitamin C, produced significantly greater weight gain, feed efficiency, and spleen weight of pigs in both trials. Although there was no interaction between crowding and dietary treatment in affecting the performance of pigs, supplemental carbadox improved the performance of crowding-stressed pigs by maintaining an adequate level of feed intake and improving feed efficiency, whether crowding was caused by increased pig density or by reduced pen size. No significant differences in phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin test response or in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (N/L) were observed among treatments in trial 1, while a significantly reduced response to PHA and a higher N/L were detected in crowding-stressed pigs in trial 2.     

Ammonium polyphosphate versus dicalcium phosphate as a phosphorus supplement for growing-finishing swine

A totaL of 160 crossbred pigs were fed a sorghum-soybean meal diet with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) or dicalcium phosphate (DiCa) as supplemental phosphorus (P) sources for growing-finishing swine. The diets contained P levels of .5 and .4% for the grower phase and .4 and .33% for the finisher phase. Ammonium polyphosphate was evaluated on the basis of pig performance and bone development and compared with DiCa as a standard. The first rib and third and fourth metacarpals were removed from eight barrows from each of the four treatments. Replacement of DiCa with APP as the P supplement did not affect (P greater than .05) average daily gain, average daily feed and feed:gain ratio of growing-finishing pigs. No effect on bone variables examined on the first rib and third and fourth metacarpals was obtained between pigs fed APP or DiCa. Pigs on the lower supplemental P levels had lower (P less than .05) dry fat-free weight and percentage ash for all three bones. The breaking force of the first rib was less (P less than .05) for the pigs fed the lower P supplements of APP and DiCa than for pigs fed the higher level of DiCa. A trend was observed for an apparent decreased P availability from APP than DiCa when fed at the lower level of supplementation, but this trend was not observed when APP was added to provide a P level to meet National Research Council requirements. Ammonium polyphosphate as a P supplement for growing-finishing swine was satisfactory for performance and bone mineralization as compared with DiCa.     

Utilization by growing and finishing pigs of raw soybeans of low Kunitz trypsin inhibitor content

Three trials were conducted to compare acceptance and utilization by growing and finishing pigs of diets containing supplemental protein from either heated, solvent-extracted soybean meal (SBM), raw low-Kunitz trypsin inhibitor soybean (LT) or raw commercially grown Williams cultivar soybean with high Kunitz trypsin inhibitor content (HT). In Trial 1, 36 crossbred pigs, averaging 7 kg in weight, were fed 1) corn-SBM, 2)corn-LT or 3) corn-HT diets for 28 d. Diets were formulated to be isolysinic and to have similar calorie:lysine ratios. Average daily gain and gain/feed were higher (P less than .01) for pigs fed the corn-SBM diet than for pigs fed the corn-LT diet; average daily gain and gain/feed were higher (P less than .01) for the corn-LT diet than for the corn-HT. Average daily feed intake did not differ (P greater than .05) among diets. In Trial 2, 48 crossbred pigs averaging 67 kg were fed diets similar to those in Trial 1 but with lower lysine values. The daily gain (.95 kg) of pigs fed the corn-SBM diet was greater (P less than .05) than for pigs fed the corn-LT diet (.87 kg), which in turn was greater (P less than .05) than for the pigs fed the corn-HT diet (.83 kg). Daily feed intake (kg) and gain/feed were 3.27 and .291, 2.97 and .293, and 3.07 and .270, respectively, for pigs fed the corn-SBM, corn-LT and corn-HT diets. In Trial 3, 18 castrate male pigs averaging 12.4 kg were fed cornstarch-based diets with either SBM, LT or HT as the source of protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Aerosolized 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3-one reduced agonistic behavior and temporarily improved performance of growing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of aerosolized 5 alpha-androst-16-en-3-one (androstenone) on pig aggressive and submissive behaviors and on pig performance. In Exp. 1, twenty-four 5-wk-old pigs were randomly regrouped in a two-pig bioassay. A solution of either isopropyl alcohol or .5 mg androstenone in isopropyl alcohol per pig was aerosolized on both pigs in the observation pens. Summarization of video records from the 90-min bioassay showed that pens of pigs aerosolized with androstenone spent 58% less time engaged in aggressive behavior (P less than .05) and 96% less time engaged in submissive behavior (P less than .01). In Exp. 2, a performance trial was conducted with finishing pigs from 57 to 91 kg body weight. Factorially arranged treatments included aerosolized androstenone (.5 mg/pig) or the vehicle isopropyl alcohol and regrouping into uniform body weight blocks or no regrouping. Regrouping depressed average daily feed consumption (P less than .05) and average daily gain (P less than .05) for the first 7 d of the trial. Pigs reveiving the androstenone aerosol had improved average daily gain (P = .01) and gain:feed ratio (P less than .01) for the first 28 d of the trial. Performance of all treated pigs was similar for the entire finishing period. This olfactory stimulant reduced pig agonistic behavior and transiently improved performance of regrouped and non-regrouped finishing pigs.     

Group size and floor-space allowance can affect weanling-pig performance

Crossbred weanling piglets (n = 1,920; mean initial BW, 5.3 +/- .7 kg) were used in two 9-wk trials employing a randomized block design in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to determine effects of group size (20 [Small = S] or 100 [Large = L] pigs/pen) and floor-space allowance (calculated requirement [CR] or calculated requirement less 50% of estimated "free space" [CR-50]) on growth performance. Free space was estimated for each group size. From wk 1 through 4 after weaning, S and L groups at CR were allowed a floor space of .17 m2/pig, and at CR-50, S and L groups were allowed .15 m2/pig and .13 m2/pig, respectively. From wk 5 through 9 after weaning, all CR treatment pigs were provided a floor space of .38 m2/pig, and for the CR-50 treatment, S and L pigs were allowed .32 m2/pig and .28 m2/pig, respectively. Piglets had free access to feed and water. Feeder-trough space per pig was the same for both group sizes. Feed-intake data were collected for only wk 1 through 4. Group size by floor-space allowance interactions (P < .05) were found for gain/feed ratio (G/F) for wk 1 and wk 2 through 4, but not for wk 1 through 4. Piglets in L groups were lighter (P < .001) at the end of wk 1, 4, and 9 by 2, 4, and 5%, respectively, and had lower ADG (6%; P < .001) throughout the trial than S piglets. During wk 1 through 4, feed intake was lower (7%, P < .001) in L piglets than in S piglets, but G/F was similar (P > .05). Piglets in CR groups had greater ADG (5%; P < .01) throughout the trial, with a greater G/F (P < .05) for wk 1 through 4, and were heavier (P < .01) than those in CR-50 groups at the end of wk 4 (3%) and 9 (4%). Pigs in L groups had a greater within-pen coefficient of variation in BW at the end of wk 9 than pigs in S groups. Large groups and reduced floor-space allowance reduced piglet growth performance in the nursery.     

Dietary sodium and chloride levels for growing-finishing pigs

The performance and the physiological and metabolic consequences of three dietary levels of Na (.03, .09 and .18%) and of Cl (.08, .17 and .32%) arranged factorially were determined in growing-finishing pigs (36 to 89 kg). Average daily gain and feed efficiency of pigs fed .03% Na were lower than pigs fed .09 or .18% Na. Gain:feed ratio of pigs fed .32 or .17% Cl was greater than that of pigs fed .08% Cl during the finishing phase (58 to 89 kg) but not during the growing phase. Increasing dietary Cl levels increased average daily feed intake and gain:feed ratio of pigs fed .03% Na, but had no effect at the higher levels of Na. Plasma Na and Cl were lower (P less than .05) while plasma K (P less than .01), total protein, (P less than .04), albumin (P less than .07) and urea N (P less than .03) were higher in pigs fed .03% Na compared with those fed .09 or .18% Na. Increasing the dietary levels of Cl decreased urea N (P less than .05). Plasma lysine:arginine ratio increased as dietary Cl increased in pigs fed .18% Na diets, but not in pigs fed .03 or .09% Na. The urea cycle intermediate ornithine was highest in the plasma of pigs fed .18% Na. Dietary Na and Cl seem to interact to affect both plasma electrolytes and basic amino acid metabolism.     

Effect of dietary electrolyte balance on performance and blood parameters of growing-finishing swine fed in high ambient temperatures

A growing-finishing trial using 96 crossbred pigs (21.8 kg initially) was conducted to determine the effect of dietary electrolyte balance (EB = Na + K - Cl, meq/kg of feed) on rate and efficiency of weight gain, blood gases and whole blood Na and K concentration during high ambient temperatures. Dietary EB (25, 100, 175, 250, 325 or 400 meq/kg) was altered by the substitution of CaCl2 for CaCO3 or NaHCO3 for corn and soybean meal. Increasing EB during the grower phase (21 to 50 kg) increased feed intake and average daily gain linearly (P less than .03). Efficiency of feed utilization was unaffected (P greater than .70). During the finisher phase (50 to 105 kg), live weight gain was 7% higher for pigs receiving the 250 meq EB diet compared with the average of all other EB levels. Feed intake during the finisher period increased linearly (P less than .03) as dietary EB increased from 25 to 400 meq/kg of diet. Live weight gain and daily feed intake measured over the entire growing-finishing period (21 to 105 kg) improved linearly (P less than .03) with increasing dietary EB. Blood pH, HCO3, total CO2, Na concentration, and base excess increased linearly (P less than .05) as dietary EB increased. We interpret the data to indicate that feed intake and weight gain of growing-finishing swine may be enhanced by dietary electrolyte modification during periods of high ambient temperature. This improvement probably is due to increased blood buffering capacity.     

Evaluation of high protein oats as a replacement for corn in diets fed to growing-finishing swine

In a series of five trials, 680 crossbred pigs were fed isolysine diets in which high protein (13.8 to 16.0%) oats constituted 0, 20, 40 or 60% of the cereal portion. There was a linear depression in average daily gain (P less than .001) and average daily feed intake (P less than .005) with increasing level of oats, but feed/gain was unaffected (P less than .05) during the growing period from 22 to 46 kg. There were no significant differences in average daily gain during the finishing period from 46 to 102 kg; however, feed/gain increased linearly (P less than .01) with increasing level of oats in the diet. Increases in the percentage of oats in the cereal portion of the diet resulted in a linear (P less than .01) decrease in average daily gain and an increase (P less than .01) in feed/gain for the entire feeding period. We conclude that high protein-high lysine oats of the quality used in these trials can be included at up to 20% of the cereal portion of the diet without greatly affecting performance.     

Effect of group size on performance of growing-finishing pigs

Six hundred forty growing-finishing pigs (initial BW = 23.2 +/- 4.8 kg) were used in a 12-wk study (final BW = 95.5 +/- 10.2 kg) to quantify the effects of group size (10, 20, 40, and 80 pigs/pen) on performance, tail biting, and use of widely distributed feed resources. One single-space wet/dry feeder was provided for every 10 pigs, and floor allowance was 0.76 m2/pig in all treatment groups. Weight gain and feed intake were measured every 2 wk. At weighing, a tail-biting injury score was given to each pig. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio before regrouping at the beginning of the experiment, 24 to 48 h after regrouping, and on the last day of each trial. The use of feeders by individual pigs was assessed by behavioral observations. Average daily gain for the entire 12-wk trial did not differ among group sizes (861, 873, 854, and 845 g/d for groups of 10, 20, 40, and 80, respectively; P > 0.10). During the first 2 wk, ADG was lower for pigs in groups of 40 (554 g/d) than pigs in groups of 10 (632 g/d; P < 0.05), but not pigs in groups of 20 or 80 (602 and 605 g/d, respectively). Average daily feed intake, feed efficiency, and variability in final BW within a pen also did not differ among group sizes. Tail-biting injury scores increased throughout the study, but did not differ among group sizes. Similar proportions of pigs were removed from the trial for health reasons, primarily due to tail biting, in all treatments. Individual pigs in each group size ate from most, if not all, of the feeders in the pen. There was no evidence of spatial subgrouping within the larger groups. The results suggest that housing growing-finishing pigs in groups of up to 80 pigs is not detrimental to productivity and health if space allowance is adequate and feed resources are evenly distributed.     

Effect of diet and exercise on performance, carcass traits and plasma components of growing-finishing barrows

Twenty-four barrows (approximately 25 kg initial wt) were used in each of three 2 X 2 factorially arranged trials to study effects of exercise (not exercised vs walking 30 min/d, 6 d/wk on a treadmill) and diet (low energy vs high energy) on performance during the growing-finishing period. Average daily gain (ADG) of barrows not exercised was greater (P less than .07) than that of those exercised. Barrows fed the high-energy diet had greater (P less than .05) ADG, lower (P less than .01) feed intake and lower (P less than .01) feed-to-gain ratio than barrows fed low-energy diets. In trials 1 and 2, pigs were slaughtered when removed from test and selected carcass measurements and internal organ weights were obtained. Exercise did not significantly affect carcass length, backfat thickness, loin muscle area or lean cuts (as a percentage of off-test weight). Pigs fed the high-energy diet had more (P less than .01) backfat than those fed the low-energy diet. Neither the exercise program nor the diet had a significant effect on organ weights. Pigs not exercised had a higher (P less than .05) plasma albumin-to-globulin ratio and lower (P less than .05) plasma creatinine concentration than did pigs that were exercised. Also, pigs not exercised had slightly higher (P less than .08) plasma albumin and glucose, but lower (P less than .06) plasma globulin levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of feed and water restriction and receiving diet crude protein on feeder pig performance

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feed and water restriction and receiving diet crude protein level on feeder pig performance. In Exp. 1, a total of 239 commingled feeder pigs transported over 1,000 km were used in two trials. Pigs given access to feed and water (FW) at the market weighed more (P less than .0001) following marketing and transport than pigs given no feed and water (N) for the comparable 25-h market period (20.7 vs 19.6 kg). While FW pigs weighed less (P less than .02) than N pigs at the conclusion of the trials (93.9 vs 96.6 kg), there was no effect (P greater than .1) on overall average daily gain (.32 vs .35). There were no effects of receiving diets containing 12, 16 or 20% crude protein on daily gain, daily feed intake or feed efficiency for the overall growing-finishing period. Scour scores on d 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 post-arrival increased (P less than .01) with increased levels of protein in the receiving diets. In Exp. 2, a total of 360 crossbred feeder pigs was mixed and moved from a nursery to grower-finisher facilities in three trials, given feed and water access immediately (FWG) or denied access for 44 h (NG). At the end of the 44-h period, FWG pigs were heavier than NG pigs (P less than .0001; 18.3 vs 16.7 kg). There was no treatment effect on overall pig weight, daily gain or feed efficiency.     

瘦肉型猪规模化养殖生长肥育期基础饲粮配方筛选试验

试验共使用８４头杜长大试猪,研究按理想可消化氨基酸模式利用不同蛋白源配制的基础饲粮对生长肥育猪生产性能的影响。试验结果：豆粕＋鱼粉、豆粕、豆粕＋棉粕＋菜粕３种不同蛋白源构成的基础饲粮,无论生长期、肥育期还是生长肥育全期日增重差异均不显著,采食量和饲料／增重比也很接近,肥育猪的瘦肉率和背膘厚等指标无大的差异。但豆粕＋棉粕＋菜粕日粮较豆粕＋鱼粉日粮千克增重饲料成本低４．６３％。表明,按理想可消化氨基酸     

A modified reduced nocturnal temperature regimen for early-weaned pigs

A four-trial experiment utilizing 3- to 4-wk-old newly weaned pigs was conducted to evaluate the effect of a modified reduced nocturnal (MRNT) nursery temperature regimen on weaned pig and subsequent grower-finisher performance. Nursery treatments were 1) a control temperature (CT) regimen of 30 degrees C constant air temperature lowered 2 degrees C/wk and 2) a regimen beginning 1 wk after weaning in which the temperature from 1900 to 0700 was lowered 6 degrees C from CT. Weaned pigs gained faster (P less than .01) in the MRNT treatment than in the CT treatment, with gains in Trials 1, 2, 3 and 4 being .39 vs .37, .28 vs .27, .38 vs .37 and .39 vs .36 kg/d, respectively. This improvement in gain was due to an increase (P less than .005) in feed intake for the same periods (.60 vs .58; .48 vs .42; .59 vs .58; .63 vs .58 kg/d). There was no difference in feed conversion (P greater than .1). There was no effect (P greater than .1) of MRNT vs CT on subsequent performance to slaughter weight for average daily gain (.69 vs .69 kg/d), average daily feed (2.22 vs 2.23 kg/d) or gain/feed (.31 vs .31). These results support the conclusions that weaned pigs eat more feed and gain faster with a reduced nocturnal temperature scheme and that there are no carry-over effects during the growing-finishing phase.     

Methionine requirement of the finishing pig

Two pig experiments were conducted using a methionine (Met)-deficient feather meal-corn-soybean meal basal diet (13% CP; 3,400 kcal ME/kg diet, .126% Met, 456% cystine) supplemented with an amino acid mixture (lysine, tryptophan, histidine, threonine and phenylalanine) to determine the Met requirement of finishing pigs between 50 and 80 kg live weight. Using young chicks in a Met bioavailability growth assay and cecectomized adult cockerels in a Met digestibility assay, the Met-deficient basal diet was found to contain .115% bioavailable and .110% digestible Met. These results gave a bioavailability estimate (relative to DL-Met set at 100%) of 91.3 +/- 2.5% and a true digestibility estimate of 87.0 +/- 2.2% for Met in the basal pig diet. In Exp. 1, 21 crossbred pigs averaging 61 kg initially were individually fed diets containing .115, .165 or .215% bioavailable Met for 21 d. Average daily gain and gain:feed ratio increased quadratically (P less than .05) as level of Met increased. In Exp. 2, 30 crossbred pigs averaging 53 kg were individually fed diets containing .115, .135, .155, .175 or .195% bioavailable Met for 27 d. Daily gain and gain;feed ratio responded linearly (P less than .01) as Met level increased. Based on the results of Exp. 2, the bioavailable Met requirement of finishing pigs in the weight range 50 to 80 kg was estimated to be .182% of the diet. Assuming an 88% bioavailability of Met in commercial diets based on corn and soybean meal, the total Met level needed in practice would be .207%. If 55% of the finishing pig's sulfur amino acid need can be furnished by cystine, the total sulfur amino acid requirement would be .45% of the diet.     

Fat supplementation of diets containing a high level of oats for growing-finishing swine.

Two 2 x 2 factorial arrangement trials were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of fat supplementation in improving the energy value of diets containing a high level of a fibrous feedstuff (oats) for growing-finishing swine. Corn-soybean meal-based diets were used that contained either 0 or 40% ground oats and either 0 or 3% added fat. Each trial used 120 pigs (27 kg) with each treatment assigned to five pens of six pigs each. Growing diets (.80% lysine for basal diet) were given from 27 to 55 kg live weight and finishing diets (.64% lysine) from 55 to 102 kg. Diets were formulated to a constant calculated ME to lysine ratio within the growing and finishing phases. Apparent digestibilities of DM and energy were determined for the growing and finishing diets by the indigestible marker (chromic oxide) method. The inclusion of oats in the diets resulted in poorer (P less than .01) feed conversion efficiency and reduced (P less than .01) apparent DM and energy digestibilities. The addition of fat improved (P less than .01) feed conversion efficiency but had no effect (P greater than .10) on DM or energy digestibility. The improvements noted for feed conversion efficiency were similar (P greater than .10) regardless of the dietary oat content. The 3% dietary fat supplementation was equally effective in improving feed conversion efficiency whether the diets did contain or did not contain ground oats for growing-finishing swine.     

The effects of vomitoxin and feed intake on the performance and blood characteristics of young pigs

Thirty barrows (average weight 8.4 kg) were used in a 3-wk experiment to determine the effects of the ingestion of vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol)-contaminated feed on performance and blood chemistry. The barrows were assigned randomly to consume either: 1) a control diet (C), fed ad libitum, 2) a vomitoxin contaminated diet (V; 10.5 ppm), fed ad libitum, or 3) a vomitoxin contaminated pair-fed at levels equal to those consumed by V animals (PF). The V and PF pigs had similar daily gains (.19 vs .20 kg) and feed intakes (.40 and .39 kg), but both of these were lower (P less than .01) than those for the C-fed pigs (.38 kg daily gain and .72 kg feed intake). The V-fed pigs had lower (P less than .05) hematocrit, hemoglobin, serum glucose and serum phosphorus and tended to have lower serum calcium (P less than .06) than C-fed pigs. The V-fed pigs had higher (P less than .05) hemoglobin and tended to have higher (P less than .08) serum phosphorus and lower (P less than .07) serum calcium than PF animals. There was a high total- and free-bilirubin concentration in serum of C- and V-fed pigs in the last sampling period (3-wk), which may be due to fasting and not cholestasis. No differences among treatments were observed in any of the other blood parameters. These results suggest that the differences in animal performance and blood parameters observed between control-and vomitoxin-fed pigs are mainly due to differences in feed intake.     

Effects of restricted feed intake on finishing pigs weighing between 68 and 114 kilograms fed twice or 6 times daily

In a previous study with limit-fed gestating gilts, we observed that gilts fed 6 times/d had greater ADG than those fed the same amount over 2 feedings. To confirm these earlier responses, we used finishing pigs as a model in two 42-d trials and two 28-d trials to evaluate the effects of restricted feed intake and feeding frequency (2 vs. 6 times/d, floor fed) on pig performance between 68 and 114 kg. In all experiments, pigs (10/pen) were housed in 1.8 × 3.1 m pens with a half-solid, half-slatted concrete floor. Pigs were fed a corn- and soybean meal-based diet formulated to 1.15% standardized ileal digestible Lys and 3,294 kcal of ME/kg. In Exp. 1 to 3, energy and Lys were supplied to pigs according to NRC (1998) calculations to target an ADG of 0.80 kg. In Exp. 4, the diet was supplied to pigs to target an ADG of 0.80 kg (low feed intake) or 0.95 kg (high feed intake) to determine if the amount of energy above the maintenance requirement and feeding frequency affected pig performance. Pigs were fed by dropping similar amounts of feed onto the solid concrete floor either 2 (0700 or 1400 h) or 6 times (3 meals within 2 h at the morning and afternoon feedings) per day with an Accu-Drop Feed Dispenser (AP Systems, Assumption, IL). In Exp. 1 and 2, pigs fed 6 times daily had increased (P < 0.02) ADG and G:F compared with pigs fed 2 times per day. Greater feeding frequency increased (P < 0.05) the duration of time spent feeding and standing and reduced the lying time. In Exp. 3, a third treatment was included to determine whether the improvements in performance were due to decreased feed wastage. This treatment was designed to minimize feed wastage by dropping feed closer to the floor for pigs fed 2 times per day. Pigs fed 6 times daily had improved (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F compared with pigs in either treatment fed 2 times per day. No difference (P > 0.05) in performance was observed between pigs fed 2 times per day when feed was dropped from the feed drop or by the modified method. In Exp. 4, increasing the feeding frequency from 2 to 6 times per day improved (P < 0.01) ADG and G:F for pigs fed the low feed intake and tended to increase (P < 0.06) ADG and improved (P < 0.05) G:F for pigs fed the high feed intake. In limit-feeding situations, increasing the frequency of feeding from 2 to 6 times per day improved pig performance, which confirmed our earlier findings in gestating gilts.     

Effects of space allocations and energy levels on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in growing and finishing pigs

Two experiments were conducted to investigate effects of different space allocations and different dietary metabolizable energy (ME) levels on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in growing and finishing pigs. In experiment 1, a total of 84 growing pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with an initial body weight (BW) of 27.10 ± 1.60 kg were used in a 5‐week trial. Pigs were blocked based on initial BW into a 2 × 2 factorial design with the following factors: (i) 0.60 or 0.80 m²/pig space allocations; and (ii) 3,400 or 3,550 kcal/kg ME of diets. In experiment 2, a total of 84 finishing pigs with an initial BW of 67.43 ± 1.97 kg were used in a 10‐week trial. Pigs were allotted based on initial BW into a 2 × 2 factorial design with the following factors: (i) 0.81 or 1.08 m²/pig space allocations; and (ii) 3,300 or 3,450 kcal/kg ME of diet. In experiment 1, high ME diet improved gain‐to‐feed ratio (G:F) in pigs with low space allocation but not in pigs in high space allocation (p < .05). Additionally, high ME diet increased apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nitrogen in low space allocation but decreased ATTD of nitrogen in high space allocation (p < .05). In experiment 2, high ME diet improved average daily gain (ADG) and G:F in early‐finishing pigs with low space allocation but not in pigs with high space allocation (p < .05). In conclusion, the provision of high ME diets was not enough to overcome the reduction in growth performance due to low space allocation but can improve feed efficiency in growing pigs and daily gain and feed efficiency early‐finishing pigs.