Relative bioavailability of phosphorus in inorganic phosphorus sources fed to growing pigs

The relative bioavailability of P in 5 sources of inorganic P was determined using growing pigs. The 5 sources of inorganic P were dicalcium phosphate (DCP), monocalcium phosphate (MCP) containing 50% MCP (MCP50), MCP containing 70% MCP (MCP70), MCP containing 100% MCP (MCP100), and monosodium phosphate (MSP). A total of 11 diets were formulated. The basal diet was formulated to contain 0.10% P, and 10 additional diets were formulated by adding 0.07 or 0.14% P from each of the 5 P sources to the basal diet. Growing pigs (n = 44; initial BW: 16.8 ± 4.3 kg) were individually housed and randomly allotted to the 11 experimental diets. Feed was provided on an ad libitum basis throughout the 28-d experimental period. At the conclusion of the experiment, all pigs were killed, and 4 bones (i.e., the third and fourth metacarpals on both front feet) were harvested. Bone-breaking strength, bone ash, and Ca and P concentrations were determined. The concentration of bone ash increased (P < 0.05) as MCP50, MCP70, MCP100, or MSP were added to the basal diet, and the concentration of bone P also increased (P < 0.05) as MCP70, MCP100, or MSP were added to the basal diet. The relative bioavailability of P in each of the feed phosphates was determined using slope ratio methodologies based on breaking strength, and expressed relative to MSP. The slope of the regression line for diets containing MSP or MCP100 was steeper (P < 0.05) than the slope for pigs fed the diet containing DCP, but not different (P > 0.05) from that of pigs fed diets supplemented with MCP50 or MCP70. In conclusion, P in MSP and MCP100 is more bioavailable than P in DCP, but there were no differences within MCP sources.     

Novel procedure for estimating endogenous losses and measurement of apparent and true digestibility of phosphorus by growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to evaluate a novel procedure for estimating endogenous losses of P and for measuring the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and true total tract digestibility (TTTD) of P in 5 inorganic P sources fed to growing pigs. The P sources were dicalcium phosphate (DCP), monocalcium phosphate (MCP) with 50% purity (MCP50), MCP with 70% purity (MCP70), MCP with 100% purity (MCP100), and monosodium phosphate (MSP). A gelatin-based, P-free basal diet was formulated and used to estimate endogenous losses of P. Five P-containing diets were formulated by adding 0.20% total P from each of the inorganic P sources to the basal diet. A seventh diet was formulated by adding 0.16% P from MCP70 to the basal diet. All diets were fed to 7 growing pigs in a 7 x 7 Latin square design, and urine and feces were collected during 5 d of each period. The endogenous loss of P was estimated as 139 +/- 18 mg/kg of DMI. The ATTD of P in MSP was greater (P < 0.05) than in DCP, MCP50, and MCP70 (91.9 vs. 81.5, 82.6, and 81.7%, respectively). In MSP, the TTTD of P was 98.2%. This value was greater (P < 0.05) than the TTTD of P in DCP, MCP50, and MCP70 (88.4, 89.5, and 88.6%, respectively). The ATTD and the TTTD for MCP70 were similar in diets formulated to contain 0.16 and 0.20% total P. Results from the current experiment demonstrate that a P-free diet may be used to measure endogenous losses of P in pigs. By adding inorganic P sources to this diet, the ATTD of P can be directly measured and the TTTD of P may be calculated for each source of P.     

Standardized total tract digestibility of phosphorus in various inorganic phosphates fed to growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to determine the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of phosphorus (P) in five sources of inorganic phosphate fed to growing pigs, including dicalcium phosphate (DCP), monodicalcium phosphate (MDCP), monocalcium phosphate (MCP), tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and monosodium phosphate (MSP, reagent grade). Six barrows (42.4 ± 1.1 kg) individually housed in metabolism crates were allotted to a 6 × 6 Latin square design with six dietary treatments and six periods. Each experimental period consisted of a 4 day adaptation period and a 5 day collection period. The five experimental diets contained 0.24 to 0.34% of P from each inorganic phosphate as a sole source of P. A P‐free diet was also prepared to estimate the basal endogenous loss of P. The STTD of P in MSP (94.9%) was not different from the STTD of P in MCP (93.0%), but was greater (P < 0.05) than that in DCP, MDCP and TCP (87.0, 86.5 and 71.3%, respectively). In conclusion, digestibility of P in reagent‐grade MSP was greater than that in feed‐grade inorganic phosphates such as DCP, MDCP and TCP, and digestibility of P in DCP and MDCP was greater than that in the TCP.     

生长猪基础饲粮组成对磷酸氢钙和磷酸二氢钙中磷的全肠道真消化率的影响

本试验旨在研究生长猪基础饲粮组成对磷酸氢钙(DCP)和磷酸二氢钙(MCP)中磷的全肠道真消化率(TTTD)的影响。试验1选用10头平均体重为(30.4±1.8)kg的生长猪,按照10×8不完全拉丁方设计,分别饲喂含有5个DCP添加水平的玉米-豆粕型和含有5个DCP添加水平的小麦-豆粕型饲粮,进行8期消化试验;试验2选用10头平均体重为(30.9±1.5)kg的生长猪,按照10×8不完全拉丁方设计,分别饲喂含有5个M CP添加水平的玉米-豆粕型和含有5个MCP添加水平的小麦-豆粕型饲粮,进行8期消化试验。每期消化试验包括5 d的饲粮适应期和2 d的粪便收集期。结果表明:1)玉米-豆粕型饲粮的总粪磷排泄量极显著高于小麦-豆粕型饲粮(P0.01),小麦-豆粕型饲粮的全肠道可消化磷含量和磷的表观全肠道消化率(ATTD)极显著高于玉米-豆粕型饲粮(P0.01)。饲粮添加DCP和MCP线性增加总粪磷排泄量、全肠道可消化磷含量及磷的ATTD(P0.01)。2)通过使用线性回归法,测得生长猪采食玉米-豆粕型和小麦-豆粕型饲粮对DCP中磷的TTTD分别为82.33%和82.88%,生长猪采食玉米-豆粕型和小麦-豆粕型饲粮对MCP中磷的TTTD分别为85.88%和84.62%。由此可见,生长猪基础饲粮组成对DCP和MCP中磷的TTTD无显著影响。     

Bioavailability of phosphorus in meat and bone meal for swine

Meat and bone meal (MBM), when supplemented with tryptophan, is an excellent protein source for pigs. It is also a rich source of Ca and P, but some research has suggested that the bioavailability of P is variable. Experiment 1 further examined the bioavailability of P in MBM. The MBM was obtained directly from a plant and was processed to pass through a 10-mesh screen. It contained 50.7% CP, 2.26% lysine, 10.0% Ca, and 5.0% P (air-dry basis). Individually penned pigs (n = 35; 17 kg initial BW) were fed (ad libitum basis) a low-P, corn-soybean meal-basal diet (0.95% lysine, 0.70% Ca, 0.34% P; as-fed basis) or the basal with graded levels of added P (0.067, 0.133, 0.200%) from monosodium phosphate (MSP) or MBM for 40 d. The Ca level was 0.70% in all diets. Diets were fortified with salt, vitamins, and trace minerals. At termination, the third and fourth metacarpals and metatarsals and femurs were removed from all pigs. Growth rate and feed:gain improved linearly (P < 0.01) with P addition, regardless of source, whereas ADFI was unaffected (P = 0.20). Bone strength and ash increased linearly (P < 0.01) with increasing level of P from either source. The main effect of P source (MSP vs. MBM) was not significant, except for the greater femur strength (P < 0.05) in the pigs fed the MSP-supplemented diets. Femur and metacarpal/metatarsal strength and metacarpals ash (grams) were regressed on grams of added P consumed for each P source, with the basal included in both regressions. Based on slope ratios (MSP considered as 100%), the relative bioavailability of P in MBM averaged 87% when the regression lines were forced through a common intercept and 95% when unforced. In Exp. 2, 100 pigs were fed fortified corn-soybean meal or corn-soybean meal-MBM diets from 45 to 110 kg BW to evaluate MBM as the sole source of supplemental P. The MBM (54% CP, 2.3% lysine, 9.2% Ca, 4.4% P; air-dry basis) was substituted for corn and soybean meal on a lysine basis, and crystalline lysine was added to all diets at 0.15%. Tryptophan was included in diets containing MBM. Treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial with P source (dicalcium phosphate or MBM) and P level as the two factors. The two levels of P and Ca were at the NRC requirement or the NRC level plus 0.10% additional P and Ca. Performance, carcass traits, and bone strength were not affected by source of P and Ca, but bone strength was greater (P < 0.01) at the higher P and Ca level. These results indicate that the bioavailability of P in MBM, relative to that in MSP, is high (approximately 91%) for growing pigs, and MBM can serve as the sole source of supplemental P and Ca for finishing pigs.     

Influence of dietary phosphorus concentration on the digestibility of phosphorus in monocalcium phosphate by growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that the dietary inclusion rate of P does not influence the digestibility of P. The experiment was conducted at 4 experiment stations where the same protocol was followed. A total of 60 growing pigs (initial BW: 22.22 +/- 2.13 kg) were allotted to 6 dietary treatments with 10 replications per treatment. All pigs were placed in metabolism cages that allowed for the total, but separate, collection of urine and fecal materials. Six diets were formulated. The basal diet was based on corn (54.2%), soybean meal (20%), and cornstarch. No inorganic P was used, and the total concentration of P in the basal diet was calculated to be 0.29%. Five additional diets were formulated by adding monocalcium phosphate (MCP) in increments of 0.34% to the basal diet and thereby creating diets that were calculated to contain 0.36, 0.43, 0.50, 0.57, and 0.64% total P, respectively. Ground limestone was also added to these diets to maintain a calculated Ca:P ratio of 1.2:1. The balances of Ca and P and the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of Ca and P were calculated for each diet. The contribution of P from the basal diet was then subtracted from the MCP-containing diets to calculate the balance and ATTD for P in MCP. Results of the experiment showed that the absorption and retention of both Ca and P increased (linear, P < 0.001) with increasing concentrations of Ca and P in the diet. The ATTD for Ca ranged from 62.3 to 66.8% and was not influenced by the dietary concentration of Ca. However, the ATTD for P increased from 38.4 to 65.2% as increasing levels of MCP were added to the diet (linear, P < 0.001). Increasing P intake from MCP increased (linear, P < 0.001) the excretion of P in the feces, but the quantity of P that was absorbed and retained also increased (linear, P < 0.001) as more P from MCP was added to the diet. When measured as a percentage of P intake, P retention was not influenced by the dietary P concentration. The ATTD for P in MCP ranged from 79.5 to 88.5% and was not affected by the concentration of P in the diet. Results of this experiment demonstrated that the digestibility and absorption of P from MCP are not influenced by the dietary concentration of P.     

Comparison of different levels and sources of microbial phytases

Phytases catalyse the hydrolysis of phytate rendering phosphorus (P) available for absorption. Endogenous plant phytases are to some extent present in cereals (depending on species and varieties) while microbial phytases are added to cereal based diets to increase the digestibility of phytate bound P. The present study compared two different microbial phytases. The basal diet was composed of wheat, barley, soybean and rapeseed meal without feed phosphate. The diet was initially expanded, pelleted at 90 °C and crumbled. Phytases were added at 250, 500 and 750 FTU kg^− 1 diet (Aspergillus niger; Phytase 1) and 375 and 750 FYT kg^− 1 diet (Peniophora lycii; Phytase 2). The experiment comprised 6 treatment groups of 6 pigs each kept in metabolism crates and fed one of the 5 test diets or a diet with no added microbial phytase. The diets were fed for 12 days, 5 days for adaptation and 7 days for total collection of faeces and urine. Phosphorus digestibility of the basal diet averaged 43% and increased to 55, 61 and 66% following addition of 250, 500 and 750 FTU/kg of Phytase 1 and 54 and 60% following addition of 375 and 750 FYT/kg of Phytase 2, respectively. In conclusion, equivalent effects were obtained when Phytase 2 was given at 1.5 times the doses of Phytase 1.     

Nutritive value of fermented and amino acid-supplemented malted sorghum sprouts for growing pigs

Two experiments were carried out to determine the effects of diets containing fermented and amino acid (AA)-supplemented malted sorghum sprout (MSP) on performance, nutrient utilisation and feed cost analysis of growing pigs. In experiment 1 (digestibility trial), 12 pigs were individually housed in metabolic crates, equipped with feeding and watering troughs which also allow for separate collection of faeces and urine. Data collection lasted for 7 days during which feed intake and faecal output were weighed, with daily storage of collected faeces at ?4 °C. Four diets, a basal diet, basal plus malted sorghum sprout (B?+?MSP), basal plus fermented malted sorghum sprout (B?+?FMSP) and basal plus amino acids plus malted sorghum sprout (B?+?AA?+?MSP), were tested. Samples of test ingredients, feed and faeces were analysed for their gross energy and proximate compositions. In experiment 2, 18 weaner pigs were used in a completely randomised design for 63 days to determine the performance and cost analysis of feeding malted sorghum sprout at 0, 100 and 200 g/kg in pig’s diet, six pigs per diet with each pig representing a replicate. Daily feed intake and weekly weight gain were determined. The prevailing cost of each feed ingredient was used to compute the feed cost and, subsequently, the feed cost analysis. Results of digestibility trial showed that there was no difference in the utilisation of the chemical constituents of B?+?MSP and B?+?AA?+?MSP diets, which were also similar to the basal diet, except the crude protein (CP) in amino acid-supplemented malted sorghum sprout diet, which was lower compared to the basal diet. B?+?FMSP was lower (P?<?0.05) in the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and CP compared to the basal diet. The digestible energy (DE) and the fraction of gross energy utilised as DE of each diet also were not affected by fermentation and supplementation with AA. In experiment 2, the levels of MSP used did not affect (P?>?0.05) the performance and feed cost indices measured. It was concluded that MSP can be used in growing pig’s diet, without the need for fermentation and AA supplementation, at 200 g/kg level with no adverse effect on the nutritive value of the diet.     

Comparison of low-glycoalkaloid potato protein and fish meal as protein sources for weaner piglets

A total of 32 weaner piglets (Landrace×Yorkshire) with an average initial body weight of 9.6±1.2 kg, and 29.8±2.7 days of age, were used in a 28-day growth assay to compare low-glycoalkaloid potato protein with fish meal as the main protein source. The piglets were housed pair-wise in pens and were fed semi-ad libitum. During feeding the piglets were separated allowing individual feeding within the pen. Four diets were tested with varying proportions of a high quality fish meal (F) and low-glycoalkaloid potato protein (P): diet A (10% F); diet B (5% F and 5% P); diet C (2.5% F and 7.5% P) and diet D (10% P). On average, in weeks 1–4, the piglets on diets C and D had higher feed intakes (17%; P<0.01) and daily weight gains (18%; P<0.05) than the piglets on diets A and B. There was no effect of diet (P>0.05) on feed conversion. It can be concluded from the present study that low-glycoalkaloid potato protein can completely replace high quality fish meal in diets for weaner pigs. The improved feed intake and daily gain with increasing inclusion suggests that low-glycoalkaloid potato protein may be superior to fish meal as a protein source for weaner pigs.     

Evaluation of soy protein concentrates in nursery pig diets

Four experiments were conducted with 730 weanling pigs to determine the effects of soy protein concentrate (SPC) in diets for weanling pigs. Experimental diets were fed from d 0 to 14 postweaning and a common diet was fed from d 15 to 28 for Exp. 1, 2, and 3; experimental diets were fed from d 0 to 7 postweaning in Exp. 4. In Exp. 1, the 4 experimental diets included 1) a 0% soybean meal (SBM) diet containing animal protein sources; 2) a 40% SBM diet; or a 28.55% SPC (replacing the 40% SBM on a total Lys basis) diet from 3) source 1, or 4) source 2. Pigs fed diets containing either animal protein or 40% SBM had greater ADG and ADFI (P <0.05) than pigs fed either SPC source. In Exp. 2, the 5 experimental treatments included diets 2, 3, and 4 from Exp. 1, along with 14.28% SPC from each SPC source used in Exp. 1 (replacing half of the total Lys from the 40% SBM diet). From d 0 to 14 and d 0 to 28, the SPC source x level interaction was significant for ADG (P <0.01) and was a tendency for ADFI (P <0.07). Replacing SBM with SPC from source 1 did not affect pig performance. However, replacing SBM with SPC from source 2 resulted in an improvement (quadratic, P <0.05) in ADG for pigs fed the diet containing 14.3% SPC, but resulted in no benefit from replacing all the SBM with SPC. Replacing SBM with SPC from either source improved G:F (quadratic, P <0.01), with the greatest G:F observed for pigs fed the diets with 14.3% SPC. Experiment 3 evaluated increasing levels of source 2 SPC, with treatments consisting of 1) 0% (40% SBM); 2) 7.14%; 3) 14.28%; 4) 21.42%; and 5) 28.55% SPC. There was a tendency for increased ADG (quadratic, P <0.06) and increased ADFI (quadratic, P <0.04) as inclusion of SPC in the diet increased. The gain-to-feed ratio improved (linear, P <0.01) as the SPC level in the diet increased. Inclusion of approximately 14 to 21% SPC from source 2 maximized pig performance. In Exp. 4, pigs were offered a choice of consuming the diets containing 40% SBM or 28.6% SPC from source 2. Daily feed intake was greater (P <0.0001) for the SBM diet (186 g/d) than for the SPC diet (5 g/d). Our results suggest that replacing a portion, but not all, of the high-SBM diet with SPC from source 2, but not from source 1, improves pig performance. The poor intake of pigs fed high levels of SPC may indicate a palatability problem, thus limiting its inclusion in nursery pig diets.     

Formulating diets based on digestible calcium instead of total calcium does not affect growth performance or carcass characteristics,but microbial phytase ameliorates bone resorption caused by low calcium in diets fed to pigs from 11 to 130 kg

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that the requirement for Ca expressed as a ratio between standardized total tract digestible (STTD) Ca and STTD P obtained in short-term experiments may be applied to pigs fed diets without or with microbial phytase from 11 to 130 kg. In a 5-phase program, 160 pigs (body weight: 11.2 ± 1.8 kg) were randomly allotted to 32 pens and 4 corn–soybean meal-based diets in a 2 × 2 factorial design with 2 diet formulation principles (total Ca or STTD Ca), and 2 phytase inclusion levels (0 or 500 units/kg of feed) assuming phytase released 0.11% STTD P and 0.16% total Ca. The STTD Ca:STTD P ratios were 1.40:1, 1.35:1, 1.25:1, 1.18:1, and 1.10:1 for phases 1 to 5, and STTD P was at the requirement. Weights of pigs and feed left in feeders were recorded at the end of each phase. At the conclusion of phase 1 (day 24), 1 pig per pen was euthanized and a blood sample and the right femur were collected. At the end of phases 2 to 5, a blood sample was collected from the same pig in each pen. At the conclusion of the experiment (day 126), the right femur of 1 pig per pen was collected and carcass characteristics from this pig were measured. No interactions were observed between diet formulation principle and phytase inclusion for growth performance in any phase and no differences among treatments were observed for overall growth performance. Plasma Ca and P and bone ash at the end of phase 1 were also not influenced by dietary treatments. However, on day 126, pigs fed nonphytase diets formulated based on total Ca had greater bone ash than pigs fed STTD Ca-based diets, but if phytase was used, no differences were observed between the 2 formulation principles (interaction P < 0.05). At the end of phases 2 and 3, pigs fed diets without phytase had greater (P < 0.05) plasma P than pigs fed diets with phytase, but no differences were observed at the end of phases 4 and 5. A negative quadratic effect (P < 0.05) of phase (2 to 5) on the concentration of plasma Ca was observed, whereas plasma P increased (quadratic; P < 0.05) from phases 2 to 5. However, there was no interaction or effect of diet formulation principle or phytase inclusion on any carcass characteristics measured. In conclusion, STTD Ca to STTD P ratios can be used in diet formulation for growing-finishing pigs without affecting growth performance or carcass characteristics and phytase inclusion ameliorates bone resorption caused by low dietary Ca and P.     

Effects of particle size, ash content, and processing pressure on the bioavailability of phosphorus in meat and bone meal for swine

Meat and bone meal (MBM), when supplemented with tryptophan, is an excellent protein source for pigs. It is also a rich source of Ca and P, but some research has suggested that the bioavailability of P is variable. Three experiments were conducted to determine whether particle size, ash content, or processing pressure of MBM influences the bioavailability of P. Each experiment involved six replications of six treatments with individually penned pigs initially averaging 13 to 17 kg of BW. A low-P basal diet was fed with or without 0.1 or 0.2% added P (as-fed basis) from monosodium phosphate (MSP) or with three types of MBM added at levels that supplied 0.2% P (as-fed basis). The Ca level was 0.70%, and the lysine level was 0.95% in all diets. Pigs were allowed to consume their diets (meal form) on an ad libitum basis. At the end of the study, pigs were killed, and femurs and third and fourth metacarpals and metatarsals were removed for determination of breaking strength and ash content. Bone traits were regressed on added P intake for each P source, and slope-ratio procedures were used to estimate the bioavailability of P in MBM relative to that in MSP. In Exp. 1, a blended source of MBM ground to three particle sizes (amount that passed through 6-, 8-, or 12-mesh screens) was evaluated. In Exp. 2, low-ash MBM of porcine origin, high-ash MBM of bovine origin, and a 1:1 blend of the two sources were assessed. In Exp. 3, normally processed MBM was subjected to an additional 2.1 and 4.2 kg/cm2 of pressure for 20 min to determine whether excessive heat treatment would influence the bioavailability of P. Fineness of grind of MBM or processing pressure did not influence the relative bioavailability of P in this study; however, ash content of MBM affected P bioavailability. The relative availability of P in low-ash MBM of porcine origin (with composition typical of meat meal) was approximately 15 percentage units less than that in high-ash MBM of bovine origin. Overall, the bioavailability of P in MBM, relative to that in MSP, averaged 85%.     

The effect of pectin on amino acid digestibility and digesta viscosity, motility and morphology of the small intestine, and on N-balance and performance of young pigs

Two experiments were carried out using a balanced feed mixture composed of wheat, corn, soyabean meals, casein, and crystalline amino acids (AA) and supplemented with 0, 4, or 8% of apple pectin. The daily dietary allowance provided pigs with the same level of nutrients, apart from the pectin. One experiment was conducted on pigs (within 25 to 40 kg BW) with the post valve T-caecum (PVTC) cannula to determine AA digestibility and ileal digesta viscosity. In the second experiment, the N-balance was measured twice on male pigs at about 20 and 28 kg BW using 6 animals per diet and feed intake and body weight were measured twice during the 28 d. After 40 d of feeding the diets, the pigs were sacrificed and the small intestines were weighed and sampled. The added pectin decreased standardized ileal AA digestibility (on average up to 5% dig. units) and increased digesta viscosity from about 1 to 88 mPa s. The higher pectin level did not affect motility of the duodenum and mid-jejunum, measured as responses to electrical field stimulation and to acetylcholine. However, the response of the duodenum to electrical field stimulation was after feeding the diet with 4% pectin increased compared with other diets. Pectin supplementation did not alter the weight and the length of the small intestine, but induced changes in the intestinal morphology. Muscle layer width increased significantly in the duodenum, the mid-jejunum, and the ileum while villi length increased in the duodenum and ileum. The addition of pectin decreased N retention and increased the F/G ratio but did not affect significantly the ADG of the pigs.     

Resistant starch for weaning pigs — Effect on concentration of short chain fatty acids in digesta and intestinal morphology

We investigated the effect of potato starch, a source of resistant starch (RS), in diets for newly weaned pigs on production of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and intestinal morphology. At weaning, at 4 weeks of age, 24 pigs were divided into 3 groups and fed diets containing 0 (C), 80 (P80) or 160 (P160) g raw potato starch per kg feed for 12 days. Pigs fed P160 had the longest villi whereas pigs fed P80 had the deepest crypts. Villous height at the mid-small intestine and average daily gain were positively correlated (r = 0.59, P < 0.01). The daily gain tended to be lower (P = 0.08) for pigs fed P80 than for pigs fed C or P160. The colon weight increased in pigs fed RS which coincided with an increased crypt depth in the colon. The concentration of SCFA increased in the large intestine with increasing amount of RS. The proportion of acetic acid decreased and the proportion of butyric acid increased in pigs fed P80 and P160. The increased SCFA production, especially of butyrate, may explain the colonic growth.     

Growth performance of nursery pigs fed diets containing increasing levels of corn distiller's dried grains with solubles originating from a modern Midwestern ethanol plant

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of including distiller's dried grains with solubles in nursery diets on growth performance, and to establish maximum inclusion rates for corn distiller's dried grains with solubles originating from modern, "new-generation" ethanol plants (built since 1990). Ninety-six crossbred pigs (BW = 6.18 +/- 0.14 kg) were blocked by gender and ancestry, and pigs within each block were randomly assigned to one of six dietary treatments (four pigs/pen, four pens/dietary treatment) in each of two growth performance experiments. Dietary treatments provided 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25% distiller's dried grains with solubles during Phases 2 and 3 of a three-phase nursery feeding program for early-weaned pigs. Pigs in Exp. 1 were slightly older (19.0 vs. 16.9 d of age) and heavier (7.10 vs. 5.26 kg) at the beginning of the experiment compared to pigs in Exp. 2. All pigs in both experiments were provided a commercial pelleted Phase 1 diet for the first 4 d after weaning and were then switched to their respective experimental Phase 2 diets, which were fed for 14 d, followed by their respective Phase 3 experimental diets, which were fed for a subsequent 21-d feeding period. Experimental diets were formulated to contain equivalent apparent ileal digestible lysine (1.35 and 1.15%), apparent ileal digestible methionine + cystine (0.80 and 0.65%), ME (3,340 and 3,390 kcal/kg), calcium (0.95 and 0.80%), and total phosphorus (0.80 and 0.70%) within Phases 2 and 3, respectively. Overall growth rate, ending body weight, and feed conversion were similar among pigs regardless of dietary distiller's dried grains with solubles level for both experiments. In Exp. 1, feed intake was not affected by dietary treatment (P > 0.10). In Exp. 2, however, increasing the level of distiller's dried grains with solubles linearly decreased feed intake (P < 0.02) during Phase 2 and tended to decrease voluntary feed intake (P < 0.09) over the length of the experiment. These results suggest that the corn distiller's dried grains with solubles used in this study can be included in Phase 3 diets for nursery pigs at dietary levels of up to 25% without negatively affecting growth performance after a 2-wk acclimation period. Including high levels of corn distiller's dried grains with solubles in diets for pigs weighing less than 7 kg in BW, however, may negatively influence feed intake and growth.     

Low-phytic acid corn improves nutrient utilization for growing pigs.

Thirty-five crossbred barrows averaging 14.5 kg initial BW were used in a 5-wk experiment to compare the P availability and nutritional value of a low-phytate hybrid corn (LPC, 0.26% total P, 0.08% phytic acid P) homozygous for the lpa 1-1 allele with a nearly isogenic normal hybrid corn (NC, 0.25% total P, 0.20% phytic acid P). The pigs were fed individually twice daily in metabolism pens. Three semipurified diets were created in which corn was the only source of phytate. Diet 1 contained 72% NC, 0.15% estimated available P (aP) and 0.55% Ca. Diet 2 contained 72% LPC, 0.24% aP, and 0.55% Ca. The only differences between Diets 1 and 2 were the source of corn and the levels of aP. No inorganic P (iP) was added to these diets in order to measure the animal response to the different levels of aP in the corn hybrids. Diet 3 was NC Diet 1 supplemented with iP to equal the level of aP in LPC Diet 2. Diets 4 and 5 were practical corn-soybean meal diets formulated with each corn to meet all minimum nutrient requirements and contained 0.30% aP and 0.65% Ca. For the semipurified diets, pigs fed LPC Diet 2 had higher (P < 0.01) growth performance, bone breaking strength, P absorption and retention, Ca absorption and retention, and N retention than pigs fed NC Diet 1. However, when the NC diet was supplemented with iP to equal the aP in the LPC diet, most criteria were similar (P > or = 0.2), indicating an equal nutritional value for both corn hybrids after adjusting for phytate level. The only treatment difference, other than P excretion, between the practical corn diets supplemented with soybean meal was a higher (P < 0.05) bone breaking strength for pigs fed LPC Diet 5 compared with NC Diet 4. The use of LPC in pig diets reduced P excretion in swine waste by 50 and 18.4% in the semipurified and practical diets, respectively, compared with NC. Using our in vitro procedure designed to simulate the digestive system of the pig, the availability of P for pigs was estimated at 56% for LPC and 11% for NC.     

Efficacy of sucrose and milk chocolate product or dried porcine solubles to increase feed intake and improve performance of lactating sows

Two experiments were conducted to determine the voluntary feed intake and performance of lactating sows fed diets containing a sucrose/milk chocolate product (MCP) blend (Exp. 1) or dried porcine solubles (DPS; Exp. 2). Dried porcine solubles is a coproduct of heparin extraction from porcine small intestines. In Exp. 1, mixed-parity sows (n = 108) at two research centers were assigned to a corn-soybean-meal-based diet formulated to contain 0.9% total lysine or a similar diet that contained 4% sucrose and 2% MCP on an as-fed basis. Sows were allowed ad libitum access to dietary treatments from the day of farrowing until pigs were weaned at approximately 21 d postpartum. Diet had no significant effect on voluntary feed intake of sows during lactation, backfat depth, or postweaning interval to estrus, but it had variable effects on body weight changes. Inclusion of the sucrose/MCP blend in diets elicited a 2% improvement in litter weaning weight at one research center and a 6% depression in litter weaning weight at the other center (diet x research center, P < 0.05). Litter size throughout lactation was unaffected by dietary treatment. In Exp. 2, mixed-parity sows (n = 119) at two research centers were assigned to corn-soybean meal-based diets formulated to contain 0.9% total lysine with 0, 1.5, or 3.0% added DPS. Sows were assigned to dietary treatments within research center, farrowing group, and parity at parturition. Dried porcine solubles tended to increase (P < 0.10) total feed consumed in the first 9 d of lactation and average daily feed intake over the entire lactation (6.03, 6.53, and 6.30 kg) for sows fed 0, 1.5, and 3.0% DPS, respectively. Litter size and weight on d 18 of lactation were not affected by concentration of DPS in the diet. Days from weaning to estrus and percentage of sows displaying estrus were not influenced by diet. We conclude that inclusion of the sucrose/MCP blend in the diet for lactating sows had no consistent effect on voluntary feed intake of sows and weight gain of nursing pigs. Inclusion of DPS at 1.5 or 3.0% tended to improve feed intake of lactating sows but had no significant influence on litter performance.     

Use of double-choice feeding to quantify feed ingredient preferences in pigs

Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the palatability of sorghum, maize, rye and lupine for pigs. Diets containing sorghum, maize, rye or lupine (test diets) were offered in a series of double choice tests against a reference diet. To prepare the reference diets, white broken rice in the experiments with cereals, and SBM-56 (a soy protein product low in anti-nutritional factors) in the experiment with lupine, were used as the cereal and the protein source of reference, respectively. Six test diets containing sorghum, maize or rye were prepared by replacing either 250 or 500 g kg^− 1 of broken rice from the reference diet. Similarly, two test diets containing lupine were prepared by replacing 75 or 150 g kg^− 1 of SBM-56 from the reference diet. Additionally, the pure ingredients were also evaluated against pure broken rice (sorghum, maize or rye) and pure SBM-56 (lupine). In each experiment, the corresponding ingredient was tested at two levels of inclusion and in pure form, using both newly weaned pigs and pigs at four weeks post-weaning. The palatability for each test diet expressed as % of preference was calculated as the percentage contribution of the test diet to total feed intake (test + reference diets). The preferences obtained ranged between 16 and 29% for sorghum, 16 and 35% for maize and 19 and 49% for rye. Except for rye at 500 g kg^− 1 (49%), preference values were significantly different from 50% which indicates a higher preference for the broken rice in the reference diet than for sorghum, maize and rye. Preference for lupine ranged between 39 and 56% and no difference in preference was observed between the lupine in the test diets and the SBM-56 in the reference diets. The dietary preferences could already be observed in the first days of experiment, and they did not change substantially thereafter. The levels of inclusion tested did not have an effect on preference for any of the ingredients. The age of the animals did not affect preference and the values obtained in newly weaned and post-weaned pigs were generally in good agreement. However the use of the older animals resulted in higher feed intakes and more accurate measurements. It is concluded that feedstuff palatability can be quantified with a double choice protocol using a reference diet. This should allow the formulation of feeds for weaning pigs taking into account the palatability of the ingredients, in addition to other nutritional criteria. Preference evaluation may become a useful tool to improve the palatability of the diets and facilitate piglets feed initiation at weaning.     

Phytate-degrading enzymes in pig nutrition

Phytate, the mixed salt of phytic acid (myo-inositol hexaphosphate), derived from plant-sourced feed ingredients is invariably present in practical diets for pigs. Typically, swine diets contain in the order of 3.0 g kg^− 1 phytate-bound phosphorus (phytate-P) but phytate concentrations are subject to variation. Importantly, phytate-P is only partially utilised by pigs because they do not generate sufficient endogenous phytase activity. Phytate-degrading enzymes, via step-wise dephosphorylation of phytate, have the capacity to liberate phytate-P, thus enhancing P absorption and reducing P excretion, which are both nutritionally and ecologically beneficial consequences. The commercial introduction of microbial phytases in 1991 has greatly magnified the interest in the roles of phytate and phytase in pig nutrition.

The capacity of microbial phytases to enhance growth performance of pigs offered diets with inadequate P levels is well documented. However, in some instances, phytase has been shown to improve performance of pigs offered P adequate diets thus phytase-induced improvements in growth performance should not be attributed entirely to increased P availability. This raises the possibility that phytase is increasing the utilisation of nutrients other than P. These so-called ‘extra-phosphoric’ effects of phytase remain controversial, particularly in relation to protein and amino acid availability. There are conflicting opinions that are reflected in the inconsistent outcomes of studies to determine the effect of phytase on ileal digestibility of amino acids and protein utilisation in pigs. In phytase amino acid digestibility assays, it seems likely the choice of chromic oxide as the dietary marker has contributed to these ambiguous results, which may be further complicated when ileal digesta samples are taken from cannulated pigs fed on a restricted, twice-daily basis. In order to resolve this critical issue, there is an urgent need to assess the impacts of selection of dietary markers, methods of ileal digesta collection and feeding regimen relative on the outcomes of phytase amino acid digestibility assays in pigs.

However, inconsistent results from phytase studies in pigs are not confined to amino acid digestibility assays. Arguably, insufficient attention has been paid to dietary substrate levels in relation to phytase inclusion from both scientific and practical standpoints. Phytate analyses are not straightforward and there is a real need to develop more accurate and rapid methods to facilitate phytate determinations. The properties of phytate vary between (and within) feed ingredients where solubility of phytate may be critical; which, in turn, is a function of gut pH in pigs. Contemporary phytases have the capacity to degrade approximately 50% of dietary phytate at the level of the ileum, which may mean higher inclusion rates are warranted. Consequently, there is scope for the development of more effective ‘second-generation’ phytate-degrading feed enzymes and their possible introduction, coupled with a better scientific understanding of relevant fundamental issues, will ensure that phytate-degrading enzymes will contribute to viable and sustainable pig production to an even greater extent in the future.     

Zinc-amino acid complexes for swine

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of sources of dietary zinc on gain, feed conversion and blood and bone traits of swine. In the first experiment 96 pigs were used in a 28-d study. The pigs were fed diets with no supplemental Zn or with either 9 or 12 ppm supplemental Zn from zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), zinc methionine (ZnMet) or zinc methionine with picolinic acid (ZnMet w/PA), each with or without 5% added corn oil. There were differences (P less than .05) in average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) between the pigs fed the two organic Zn sources, with those fed ZnMet w/PA showing the better gains and feed conversion. However, neither organic Zn source resulted in pig performance that was different from either the diet with no supplemental Zn or the diets supplemented with Zn from ZnSO4. In the second experiment the same dietary Zn sources and treatments were fed as in Exp. 1 except that corn oil was deleted as a variable. No differences in ADG, ADFI, feed/gain (F/G) or in changes in serum Zn or Cu were observed among treatments during either the 21-d nursery or the 56-d growing periods. During the subsequent 56-d finishing period ADG and ADFI were greater (P less than .01) for pigs fed the Zn-supplemented diets than for those fed the diets without supplemental Zn. There were no differences among treatments in F/G during the finishing period. Zn content of bone ash was lower (P less than .01) in the non-Zn-supplemented pigs. These data suggest that the Zn sources used are of similar biological value and do not support the theory that picolinic acid aids Zn absorption.