Growth performance,nutrient digestibility,and fecal microbial composition of weaned pigs fed multi-enzyme supplemented diets

A study determined the effects of supplementing corn-based diets for weaned pigs with multi-enzymes on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients, fecal score, and fecal microbial composition. A total of 132 pigs (initial body weight = 7.23 kg) that had been weaned at 21 d of age and fed a drug-free nursery diet for 7 d were housed in 33 pens of 4 barrows or gilts, blocked by body weight and gender, and fed 3 experimental diets at 11 pens per diet. The diets were corn-based diet without or with multi-enzyme A or B. Multi-enzyme A supplied 4,000 U of xylanase, 150 U of β-glucanase, 3,500 U of protease, and 1,500 U of amylase per kilogram of diet. Multi-enzyme B was the same as multi-enzyme A except that it supplied amylase at 150 U/kg, and that its source of amylase was different from that of multi-enzyme A. All diets contained phytase at 1,000 U/kg. The diets were fed for 35 d in 2 phases; phase 1 for the first 14 d and phase 2 for the last 21 d of the trial. Fecal score was determined daily during the first 7 d of the trial. Fecal samples were collected from rectum of 1 pig per pen on days 2, 7, 14, and 35 of the trial for determining bacterial composition. Also, fresh fecal samples were collected from each pen on days 41 and 42 to determine ATTD of nutrients. Multi-enzyme B increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) for phases 1 and 2. For the overall study period, multi-enzyme B increased (P < 0.05) ADG from 262 to 313 g, and average daily feed intake (ADFI) from 419 to 504 g. Multi-enzyme A increased (P < 0.05) overall ADG from 262 to 290 g, but did not affect ADFI. Multi-enzyme A or B did not affect ATTD of gross energy, but increased (P < 0.05) the ATTD of ether extract from 30% to 36% or 37%, respectively. Multi-enzyme A did not affect fecal score; however, multi-enzyme B tended to decrease (P = 0.09) fecal score, implying that it tended to decrease diarrhea. Firmicutes were the most abundant phylum of fecal bacteria (its relative abundance ranged from 58% to 72%). Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were the 2nd and 3rd most abundant phyla of fecal bacteria. Neither multi-enzyme affected fecal bacterial composition. In conclusion, the addition of multi-enzyme A or B to phytase-supplemented corn-based diet for weaned pigs can improve their growth performance and fat digestibility. However, multi-enzyme B was more effective than multi-enzyme A in terms of improving the growth performance of weaned pigs fed corn-based diet.     

Effects of beta-mannanase addition to corn-soybean meal diets on growth performance,carcass traits,and nutrient digestibility of weanling and growing-finishing pigs

Four experiments were conducted to determine the effects of adding a beta-mannanase preparation (Hemicell, ChemGen, Gaithersburg, MD) to corn-soybean meal-based diets on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of weanling and growing-finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, 156 weanling pigs (20 d, 6.27 kg BW) were allotted to four dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. Treatments were a factorial arrangement of diet complexity (complex vs simple) and addition of 3-mannanase preparation (0 vs 0.05%). Pigs were fed in three dietary phases (Phase 1, d 0 to 14; Phase 2, d 14 to 28; and Phase 3, d 28 to 42). Pigs fed complex diets gained faster and were more efficient (P < 0.05) during Phase 1 compared with pigs fed simple diets. Overall, gain:feed ratio (G:F) tended to be improved (P < 0.10) for pigs fed complex diets and it was improved (P < 0.01) for those fed diets with beta-mannanase. In Exp. 2, 117 pigs (44 d, 13.62 kg BW) were allotted randomly to three dietary treatments. Dietary treatments were 1) a corn-soybean meal-based control, 2) the control diet with soybean oil added to increase metabolizable energy (ME) by 100 kcal/kg, and 3) the control diet with 0.05% beta-mannanase preparation. Beta-mannanase or soybean oil improved (P < 0.05) G:F compared with pigs fed the control diet. In Exp. 3, 60 pigs (22.5 kg BW) were allotted randomly to the three dietary treatments used in Exp. 2. Dietary treatments were fed in three phases (23 to 53 kg, 53 to 82 kg, and 82 to 109 kg with 0.95, 0.80, and 0.65% lysine, respectively). Overall, the addition of soybean oil tended to improve G:F (P < 0.10) compared with that of pigs fed the control diet, and G:F was similar (P > 0.54) for pigs fed diets with soybean oil or beta-mannanase. Also, addition of beta-mannanase increased ADG (P < 0.05) compared with that of pigs fed the control or soybean oil diets. There were no differences (P > or = 0.10) in longissimus muscle area or backfat; however, on a fat-free basis, pigs fed the diet with beta-mannanase had greater (P < 0.05) lean gain than pigs fed the control or soybean oil diets. In Exp. 4, 12 barrows (93 kg BW) were allotted randomly to one of the three dietary treatments used in Exp. 3. Addition of 3-mannanase had no effect (P > 0.10) on energy, nitrogen, phosphorus, or dry matter digestibility. These results suggest that beta-mannanase may improve growth performance in weanling and growing-finishing pigs but has minimal effects on nutrient digestibility.     

Growth performance,nutrient digestibility,and fecal microflora in weanling pigs fed live yeast

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of live yeast supplementation on nursery pig performance, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microflora and to determine whether live yeast could replace antibiotics and growth-promoting concentrations of Zn and Cu in nursery pigs. In Exp. 1, 156 pigs were weaned at 17 d of age (BW = 5.9 kg) and allotted to a 2 x 2 factorial randomized complete block design (six or seven pigs per pen with six pens per treatment). Factors consisted of 1) dietary supplementation with oat products (oat flour and steam-rolled oats; 0 or 27.7%) and 2) yeast supplementation at 0 or 1.6 x 10(7) cfu of Saccharomyces cerevisiae SC47/g of feed. In Exp. 2, 96 pigs were weaned at 17 d of age and allotted to a 2 x 2 factorial randomized complete block design (four pigs per pen with six pens per treatment) with factors of 1) diet type (positive control containing growth-promoting concentrations of Zn, Cu, and antibiotics or negative control) and 2) live yeast supplementation (0 or 2.4 x 10(7) cfu of Saccharomyces cerevisiae SC47/g of feed). The inclusion of oat products in Exp. 1 decreased (P < 0.10) overall ADG and final BW. Yeast supplementation did not affect growth performance of pigs in Exp. 1 (P = 0.65); however, ADG in Exp. 2 was 10.6% greater (P < 0.01) and ADFI was increased by 9.4% (P < 0.10) in pigs supplemented with yeast in the positive control diet. Addition of Zn, Cu, and antibiotics to the diet improved gain:feed ratio during the prestarter period (P < 0.02) and overall (P = 0.10). In Exp. 1, inclusion of oat products increased (P < 0.01) total bacteria in feces when measured on d 10. Fecal lactobacilli measured on d 28 were reduced (P < 0.05) in pigs fed diets with oat products and yeast (interaction, P < 0.05). In Exp. 2, yeast supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) total bacteria and lactobacilli. Dietary yeast resulted in a greater (P < 0.05) yeast count in feces of pigs during the starter phase of Exp. 1. Yeast decreased (P < 0.10) the digestibility of DM, fat, and GE in the prestarter phase and DM, fat, P, and GE in the starter phase, whereas oat products increased the digestibility of DM, CP, fat, and GE (P < 0.05) in the prestarter phase. Results indicate that live yeast supplementation had a positive effect on nursery pig performance when diets contained growth-promoting antimicrobials. Nonetheless, the response was variable, and the conditions under which a response might be expected need to be further defined.     

Growth performance, gastrointestinal microbial activity, and nutrient digestibility in early-weaned pigs fed diets containing flaxseed and carbohydrase enzyme

The effects of ground flaxseed (FS) and a multicarbohydrase enzyme (C) supplement on piglet performance, gastrointestinal microbial activity, and nutrient digestibility were investigated in a 28-d trial. The enzyme supplement provided 500 units of pectinase, 50 units of cellulase, 400 units of mannanase, 1,200 units of xylanase, 450 units of glucanase, and 45 units of galactanase per kilogram of diet. Ninety-six pigs were weaned at 17 d of age (BW, 6.1 +/- 0.4 kg, mean +/- SD) and assigned to treatments based on a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design, with 6 pens per diet (4 pigs per pen). The diets contained wheat, barley, peas, soybean meal, and canola meal with 0 or 12% FS, and were fed without or with C. Flaxseed was included by changing the levels of the other ingredients to balance the diets for DE and nutrients. Diets had similar nutrient contents and met the NRC (1998) nutrient specifications, with the exception of DE, CP, and AA, which were 95, 94, and 97% of the NRC requirements, respectively. Diets were fed in a 2-phase feeding program (2 wk/phase). Feed intake and BW were measured weekly, and 1 pig per pen with a BW nearest the pen average was bled weekly to evaluate plasma urea nitrogen. On d 28, fresh fecal samples were collected from each pen and 1 pig per pen with a BW nearest the pen average was killed to evaluate intestinal microbial activity and nutrient digestibility. A dietary effect on piglet performance was observed only in wk 3, when the FS diets decreased (P = 0.005) ADG and G:F, tended to decrease (P = 0.070) ADFI, and increased (P = 0.027) plasma urea nitrogen. An interaction between FS and C was observed for ileal digesta viscosity (P = 0.045), such that C increased viscosity in the FS diet but had no effect in the non-FS diet. Flaxseed and C interacted to affect ileal ammonia content (P = 0.049), such that in the absence of FS, pigs fed the diet with C had lower ammonia than those on the diet without C. Flaxseed and C affected other ileal parameters independently. Pigs fed the FS diets had decreased (P = 0.003 to 0.033) anaerobic spore counts, organic acid, DM, CP, and nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP) digestibility compared with pigs fed the non-FS diets, whereas pigs fed the C-supplemented diets had greater (P = 0.009 to 0.061) lactobacilli counts, lactate, DM, and NSP digestibility than pigs fed the unsupplemented diets. In conclusion, FS reduced ileal microbial activity, nutrient digestibilities, and piglet performance in wk 3. The multicarbohydrase supplement increased ileal DM and NSP digestibilities as well as lactobacilli counts and lactate.     

Efficacy of dietary selenium sources on growth and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs fed diets containing high endogenous selenium

A study was conducted to determine the efficacy of organic (Se-yeast, SelenoSource AF, Diamond V Mills Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA) and inorganic sources of Se on growth performance, tissue Se accretion, and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs fed diets with high endogenous Se content. A total of 180 pigs at 34.4 +/- 0.06 kg of BW were allotted to 1 of 5 dietary treatments: a negative control without added Se (NC); 3 treatment diets with 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3 mg/kg of added Se from an organic source; and a diet with 0.3 mg/kg of added Se as sodium selenite. Each treatment had 6 pens, with 6 pigs per pen-replicate. Experimental diets were changed twice at 66.1 +/- 0.5 kg and 99.0 +/- 0.9 kg of BW, and were fed until the pigs reached market weight. Growth performance was measured at the end of each phase. Upon reaching 129.9 +/- 1.4 kg of BW, the pigs were transported to a local abattoir (Seaboard Foods, Guymon, OK), where carcass, loin, and liver samples were obtained. Hair and blood samples were obtained at the beginning and end of the study for Se analysis. Growth performance did not differ (P > 0.05) among treatments. Percent drip loss of the NC pigs was greater (2.41 vs. 1.75, P = 0.011) compared with pigs supplemented with Se. Pigs fed diets with added Se had greater Se concentrations in the liver (0.397 vs. 0.323 ppm, P = 0.015), loin (0.236 vs. 0.132 ppm, P < 0.001), serum (0.087 vs. 0.062 ppm, P = 0.047), and hair (0.377 vs. 0.247 ppm, P = 0.003) compared with the NC pigs. Percentage drip loss was linearly reduced [percent drip loss = 2.305 - (2.398 x Se), r2 = 0.29, P = 0.007] as dietary organic Se concentration increased. The Se concentration (ppm) in the liver [liver Se = 0.323 + (0.291 x Se), r2 = 0.33, P = 0.003], loin [loin Se = 0.122 + (0.511 x Se), r2 = 0.57, P < 0.001], serum [serum Se = 0.060 + (0.113 x Se), r2 = 0.33, P = 0.004] and hair [hair Se = 0.237 + (0.638 x Se), r2 = 0.56, P < 0.001] increased linearly as dietary organic Se concentration increased. Slope ratio analysis indicated that the relative bioavailability of organic Se for percent drip loss and loin and hair Se response was 306, 192, and 197% of that for inorganic Se, respectively. The results of the study show a potential advantage of organic Se supplementation in reducing drip loss even when the basal diet contains an endogenously high Se concentration of 0.181 ppm.     

不同能量和营养浓度饲粮添加益生素对生长肥育猪生长性能、养分消化率、肉品质和血液指标的影响

<正>本研究旨在测定添加益生素(枯草芽孢杆菌孢子和丁酸梭菌孢子混合物)以及不同能量和营养浓度对生长肥育猪生长性能、养分消化率和肉品质的影响。选择96头初始体重为(47.50±1.14)kg的生     

Growth performance,carcass and pork quality of finisher pigs fed oat-based diets containing different levels of beta-glucans

A study was undertaken to investigate the growth performance and carcass and meat quality of pigs (BW = 52 to 108 kg) fed oat-based (Avena sativa L.) diets containing four levels of mixed-linkage (1 --> 3), (1 --> 4)-beta-D-glucans. One hundred sixty pigs-80 barrows and 80 gilts (average starting BW = 52.7 kg)--were allocated to one of five diets: a wheat-barley-based control diet and four experimental diets. The groats of Marion, a covered oat, and OT789, a hulless oat, were used to formulate four isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets to achieve 4.1,3.3, 2.1, or 1.6% total /beta-glucans (as fed). Growth performance (daily gain and gain to feed ratio) was not affected (P > 0.05) by the different levels of beta-glucans. Carcass yield, although lower (P < or = 0.05) for pigs fed the control diet, was similar (P > 0.05) for pigs fed any of the experimental diets. Cutout yields were also alike (P > 0.05) across the five diets. Beta-glucan content had no effect (P > 0.05) on the longissimus muscle area, or, by and large, on the proportions of commercial cuts; the only exceptions were a commercial picnic from pigs fed the 2.1% diet lower (P < 0.05) relative to all other diets and a lower (P < 0.5) commercial loin from pigs fed diets 4.1 or 3.3% relative to the control diet. Furthermore, the relative proportions oftotal lean, total bone, and total dissectable fat in the four lean cuts (picnic, butt, loin, and ham) were not different (P > 0.05) among the five diets. For pigs fed 4.1% beta-glucans, the proportion of lean in each of the four major cuts was lower (P < 0.05). No differences (P > 0.05) associated with the level of beta-glucans were detected for either the initial or ultimate pH mean values, the subjective assessment of color or structure of the longissimus muscle, or the instrumentally measured color (L value). Similarly, drip loss was not influenced (P > 0.05) by the level of beta-glucans in the diets. Soluble protein did differ (P < 0.05) among the high- to low-beta-glucans diets. No differences (P > 0.05) associated with diets were found for fat hardness and shear values of grilled pork chops. Chemical fat of the longissimus muscle from pigs fed 4.1, 3.3, or 2.1% beta-glucans was lower (P < 0.05) compared to pigs fed the control or 1.6% beta-glucans diets. In summary, no evidence of detrimental effect of beta-glucans in oat-based diets, particularly at levels below 4%, was detected, lending support for the inclusion of oat into finisher diets.     

Effects of pantothenic acid on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs fed diets with or without ractopamine hydrochloride

Two experiments evaluated effects of added pantothenic acid on performance of growing-finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, 156 pigs (PIC, initial BW = 25.7 kg) were used in a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial to evaluate the effects of added pantothenic acid (PA; 0, 22.5, or 45 ppm), ractopamine.HCl (RAC; 0 or 10 mg/kg), and sex on growth performance and carcass traits. Pigs were fed increasing PA from 25.7 to 123.6 kg (d 0 to 98) and RAC for the last 28 d before slaughter. Increasing the amount of added PA had no effect (P > 0.40) on ADG, ADFI, or G:F from d 0 to 70. A PA x sex interaction (P < 0.03) was observed for ADG and G:F from d 71 to 98. Increasing the amount of added PA increased ADG and G:F in gilts, but not in barrows. Increasing the amount of added PA had no effect (P > 0.38) on carcass traits. Added RAC increased (P < 0.01) ADG and G:F for d 71 to 98 and d 0 to 98 and increased (P < 0.01) LM area and percentage lean. In Exp. 2, 1,080 pigs (PIC, initial BW = 40.4 kg, final BW = 123.6 kg) were used to determine the effects of increasing PA on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs reared in a commercial finishing facility. Pigs were fed 0, 22.5, 45.0, or 90 mg/kg of added PA. Increasing the amount of added PA had no effect (P > 0.45) on ADG, ADFI, or G:F, and no differences were observed (P > 0.07) for carcass traits. In summary, adding dietary PA to diets during the growing-finishing phase did not provide any advantages in growth performance or carcass composition of growing-finishing pigs. Furthermore, it appears that the pantothenic acid in corn and soybean meal may be sufficient to meet the requirements of 25- to 120-kg pigs.     

Dried skim milk as a replacement for soybean meal in growing-finishing diets: effects on growth performance, apparent total-tract nitrogen digestibility, urinary and fecal nitrogen excretion, and carcass traits in pigs

Two trials were conducted to determine the replacement nutritive value of dried skim milk for growing-finishing pigs. In a three-phase feeding trial, 180 growing composite barrows (40.8 +/- 2.9 kg BW) were allotted to three dietary treatments. Each phase lasted 28 d. Treatment 1 comprised a basal corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with crystalline AA to contain true ileal digestible concentrations (as-fed basis) of 0.83, 0.66, and 0.52% Lys; 0.53, 0.45, and 0.40% Thr; and 0.51, 0.45, and 0.42% sulfur amino acids (SAA; Met + Cys) in Phases 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Treatments 2 and 3 were the basal diets with 5 and 10% (as-fed basis) dried skim milk added. The three diets at each phase were formulated to have the same quantities of DE, true ileal digestible Lys, Thr, Trp, SAA, Ca, and available P. Pigs were housed 10 per pen (six pens/treatment), allowed ad libitum access to feed, and slaughtered at 121.6 +/- 9.3 kg BW. No differences were detected between pigs fed the basal diet and the dried skim milk diets or between pigs fed the 5 and 10% dried skim milk diets, respectively, in 84-d ADG (P = 0.84 or P = 0.71), ADFI (P = 0.54 or P = 0.91), and G:F (P = 0.80 or P = 0.97), in hot carcass weight (P = 0.66 or P = 0.74), 45-min postmortem LM pH (P = 0.90 or P = 0.53), 10th-rib backfat thickness (P = 0.24 or P = 0.77), LM area (P = 0.13 or P = 0.63), weights of belly (P = 0.43 or P = 0.70), trimmed wholesale cuts (P = 0.18 to 0.85 or P = 0.06 to 0.53), and ham components (P = 0.25 to 0.98 or P = 0.32 to 0.63). In the N balance trial, four littermate pairs of finishing gilts (82.9 +/- 2.0 kg BW) were assigned within pair to the basal or the 10% dried skim milk (as-fed basis) finishing diet. Daily feed allowance was 2.6x maintenance DE requirement and was given in two equal meals. Total fecal collection from eight meals and a 96-h urine collection began on d 14 when gilts weighed 92.1 +/- 2.2 kg BW. No differences were found between dietary treatments in gilt's daily N intake (P = 0.33) and the daily output of urinary urea (P = 0.88), urinary N (P = 0.97), fecal N (P = 0.69), and total manure (P = 0.62), as well as apparent total-tract N digestibility (P = 0.84) and N retention (P = 0.84). It is concluded that growing-finishing pigs fed diets containing 10% dried skim milk would have growth performance, carcass traits, and N digestibility and use similar to those fed typical corn-soybean meal diets.     

Growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and tissue histology of growing pigs fed crude glycerin-supplemented diets

The effects of dietary crude glycerin on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality indices, and tissue histology in growing pigs were determined in a 138-d feeding trial. Crude glycerin utilized in the trial contained 84.51% glycerin, 11.95% water, 2.91% sodium chloride, and 0.32% methanol. Eight days postweaning, 96 pigs (48 barrows and 48 gilts, average BW of 7.9 +/- 0.4 kg) were allotted to 24 pens (4 pigs/pen), with sex and BW balanced at the start of the experiment. Dietary treatments were 0, 5, and 10% crude glycerin inclusion in corn-soybean meal-based diets and were randomly assigned to pens. Diets were offered ad libitum in meal form and formulated to be equal in ME, sodium, chloride, and Lys, with other AA balanced on an ideal AA basis. Pigs and feeders were weighed every other week to determine ADG, ADFI, and G:F. At the end of the trial, all pigs were scanned using real-time ultrasound and subsequently slaughtered at a commercial abattoir. Blood samples were collected pretransport and at the time of slaughter for plasma metabolite analysis. In addition, kidney, liver, and eye tissues were collected for subsequent examination for lesions characteristic of methanol toxicity. After an overnight chilling of the carcass, loins were removed for meat quality, sensory evaluation, and fatty acid profile analysis. Pig growth, feed intake, and G:F were not affected by dietary treatment. Dietary treatment did not affect 10th-rib backfat, LM area, percent fat free lean, meat quality, or sensory evaluation. Loin ultimate pH was increased (P = 0.06) in pigs fed the 5 and 10% crude glycerin compared with pigs fed no crude glycerin (5.65 and 5.65 versus 5.57, respectively). Fatty acid profile of the LM was slightly changed by diet with the LM from pigs fed 10% crude glycerin having less linoleic acid (P < 0.01) and more eicosapentaenoic acid (P = 0.02) than pigs fed the 0 or 5% crude glycerin diets. Dietary treatment did not affect blood metabolites or frequency of lesions in the examined tissues. This experiment demonstrated that pigs can be fed up to 10% crude glycerin with no effect on pig performance, carcass composition, meat quality, or lesion scores.     

Growth performance and carcass characteristics of pigs fed short-season corn hybrids

An experiment was conducted to determine growth performance, carcass characteristics, and fat quality of growing-finishing pigs fed diets based on short-season corn hybrids. Twenty-four individually housed, Cotswold, growing pigs with an initial BW of 41.4 (SD = 1.4) kg were blocked by BW and sex and randomly allotted from within block to 1 of 3 diets to give 8 replicate pigs per diet. Experimental diets consisted of a control based on barley and 2 diets based on corn as the main energy sources. A 3-phase feeding program for 20 to 50 kg (phase I), 50 to 80 kg (phase II), and 80 to 110 kg (phase III) of BW was used. Diets for each phase contained approximately 3.5 Mcal/kg of DE, with total lysine of 0.95, 0.75, and 0.64% in phase I, II, and III diets, respectively. Average daily gain, ADFI, and G:F were monitored weekly during each phase. Pigs were slaughtered after reaching a minimum BW of 100 kg to determine carcass characteristics. There were no effects of diet on ADG, ADFI, and G:F (0.45 +/- 0.02, 0.34 +/- 0.02, and 0.31 +/- 0.02 for phase I, II, and III, respectively). Carcass length, dressing percent, LM area, loin depth, backfat thickness, belly firmness, and L*, b*, and a* fat color were not different across dietary treatments. Pigs fed one corn variety had no differences in fatty acid profile with barley-fed pigs, whereas those fed the other variety of corn had a greater (P < 0.05) concentration of PUFA in their backfat. The results indicate that growth performance, carcass characteristics, and fat quality of pigs fed diets based on short-season corn hybrids and those fed the barley-based diet were not different.     

Virginiamycin improves phosphorus digestibility and utilization by growing-finishing pigs fed a phosphorus-deficient, corn-soybean meal diet

Evaluations of the nutritional effect of antibiotics have largely centered on effects related to the digestibility and utilization of protein and energy. The current study evaluated the potential effect of virginiamycin (VIR) on P digestibility in swine. A total of 70 barrows (mean initial BW = 51 to 64 kg) were used in 4 nutrient-balance experiments. A basal, corn-soybean meal diet that was not supplemented with any inorganic source of P was used in each experiment. In Exp. 1, two diets were tested: basal vs. basal plus 11 mg/kg of VIR. In Exp. 2, four diets were used with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of 0 and 11 mg/kg of VIR and 0 and 750 phytase (PHY) units/kg of diet (PU/kg). Experiments 3 and 4 were the same as Exp. 2, except PHY was reduced to 300 PU/kg. For all experiments, VIR improved P digestibility (32.71 to 37.72%, P < 0.001) and Ca digestibility (54.99 to 58.30%, P = 0.002). The addition of PHY improved both P and Ca digestibility (P < 0.001); 750 PU/kg increased P digestibility 27.3% (from 34.6 to 61.9%, P < 0.001), whereas 300 PU increased it 13.8% (from 33.4 to 47.2%, P < 0.001). In an experiment conducted to evaluate the long-term effects of VIR on gut microbial profile, pigs (24 gilts and 8 barrows; mean BW = 29.1 +/- 0.50 kg) were fed a simple corn-soybean meal diet for 16 wk with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of VIR (0 and 11 mg/kg) addition and 0.15% dicalcium phosphate deletion. The long-term feeding of VIR in both the control diet and the diet with a marginally reduced P level resulted in a change in ileal microbial profile. A positive numerical increment in the number of phytate-utilizing bacteria was observed in both the normal and P-deleted diets (log unit increments of 12.4 and 17.2% over the respective controls, P = 0.13) when VIR was added. The addition of VIR also tended to affect lactobacilli populations (main effect, P = 0.11; interaction, P = 0.02); VIR decreased lactobacilli in the normal-P diet but did not affect this bacterial population in the P-deleted diet. In conclusion, the antibiotic VIR improves both Ca and P digestibility in pigs. The increase in digestibility is not as great as that provided by PHY, but because the potential mechanism of action (altered microbial populations) differs from that of PHY (direct addition of an enzyme), there can be a degree of additivity in P digestibility improvement when both products are used.     

Effect of feather meal on live animal performance and carcass quality and composition of growing-finishing swine

A total of 252 crossbred pigs were used in two experiments to determine the effect of feeding hydrolyzed feather meal (FM) during the growing-finishing period on animal performance, carcass composition, and pork quality. All pigs were blocked by weight, and dietary treatments were assigned randomly to pens within blocks. In Exp. 1, 24 pens were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments: 1) control corn-soybean meal starter, grower, and finisher diets devoid of FM; 2) control diets formulated with 3% FM; and 3) control diets formulated with 6% FM. During the starter phase, there was a quadratic decrease in average daily gain (P < 0.06) and gain:feed (P < 0.01) with increasing FM, and during the grower-II phase, gain:feed increased linearly (P < 0.07) with increasing FM inclusion level. However, dietary FM had no effects (P > 0.10) on performance during the grower-I phase, finisher phase, or in the overall trial. Moreover, carcasses from pigs fed 3% FM had greater (P < 0.05) average backfat depth than carcasses of pigs fed 0 and 6% FM, but FM did not affect (P > 0.10) ham or carcass lean composition. In Exp. 2, 24 pens were randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments: 1) positive control corn-soybean meal-based starter, grower, and finisher diets; 2) negative control corn-soybean meal- and wheat middlings-based starter, grower, and finisher diets; 3) negative control diets formulated with 3% FM; and 4) negative control diets formulated with 6% FM. Dietary FM had no effect (P > 0.10) on average daily gain, average daily feed intake, or gain:feed during any phase of the experiment. Ham weight decreased linearly (P < 0.04), whereas ham lean weight increased linearly (P < 0.09), with increasing levels of FM in the diet. Pork from pigs fed 3% FM tended (quadratic effect, P < 0.10) to receive higher Japanese color scores than pork from pigs fed either negative control or 6% FM diets. Moreover, pork color became lighter (P c 0.08), less red (P < 0.001), and less yellow (P < 0.003) as FM level was increased in swine diets. Results from these two experiments indicate that as much as 6% FM can be incorporated into isolysinic diets of growing-finishing pigs without adversely impacting animal performance, carcass composition, or pork quality.     

Dietary enzyme addition on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of pigs fed diets containing avocado oil cake silage

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Avocado oil cake (AOC) was mixed with dried grape pomace and sugarcane molasses and ensiled for 90&nbsp;days. A total mixed ration containing 5% AOC...     

Growth performance,apparent nutrient digestibility,caecal fermentation,ileal morphology and caecal microflora of growing rabbits fed diets containing probiotics and prebiotics

Ninety eight male, mixed breed weaner rabbits were used in a 70 day feeding trial to study the performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, caecal fermentation, ileal morphology and caecal microflora of growing rabbits fed diets containing Prediococcus acidilactis (1×10¹⁰ cfu/g; 0.5 g/kg), Bacillus cereus (1×10⁹ cfu/g; 0.5 g/kg), mannan oligosaccharides (MOS; 1 g/kg), arabinoxylans oligosaccharides (AX; 1 g/kg), oxytetracycline (1 g/kg), or synbiotics (TGI; 1 g/kg). A basal diet containing no feed additive was formulated. There were 14 rabbits per treatment. Rabbits fed diets containing MOS had the highest (P<0.05) final live weight and weight gain. Dietary inclusion of prebiotics (MOS, AX) resulted in higher (P<0.05) weight gains and improved feed to gain ratios. Rabbits fed diets containing MOS showed the highest (P<0.05) while those fed diets containing probiotics (Prediococcus acidilactis, Bacillus cereus) had the least (P<0.05) caecal total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. Rabbits fed diets containing prebiotics (MOS, AX) had longer ileal villi than groups fed with other treatments (P<0.05). Inclusion of various additives showed reduced caecal coliform counts. The lowest (P<0.05) lactobacillus count was obtained in the caecal content of rabbits fed diets containing MOS. Poor growth response was obtained with rabbits fed diets containing Prediococcus acidilactis or Bacillus cereus while inclusion of prebiotics in growing rabbits resulted in improved growth and gut morphology. Rabbits fed diet containing MOS showed the highest overall final live weight, weight gain, total VFA concentration and reduced caecal lactobacillus count.     

Growth, nutrient utilization and intestinal morphology of pigs fed high-fiber diets

Two trials (24 and 48 pigs; 9.7 kg initial body weight) were conducted to determine the effects of dietary fiber on growth, nutrient utilization and intestinal morphology of young pigs. The four diets fed were: basal corn-soybean meal (B), 15% oat hulls (OH), 15% soybean hulls (SH), and 20% alfalfa meal (AM). Fiber source did not have major effects on performance in a 35-d feeding trial. Balance trials (7-d duration) were conducted 32 d (Trial 1) or 6 d (Trial 2) after completion of the feeding trials. Feed intakes were equalized at 8.7% (Trial 1) or 10.3% (Trial 2) of initial body weight (kg.75). All fiber sources decreased apparent digestibilities of N, energy and dry matter (P less than .05) with no effect on N retention. Apparent digestibilities of neutral and acid detergent fiber, cellulose, and hemicellulose were reduced by OH and AM (P less than .01), but not by SH. Fiber sources did not affect apparent Ca, P, Zn or Mn absorption or retention, or Mg absorption, but decrease Mg retention (P less than .05). Apparent Na absorption was decreased by OH and increased by AM (P less than .05) but was unaffected by SH. All fiber sources increased K intake, but only SH and AM increased apparent K absorption (P less than .05). Fiber sources did not affect Na or K retention. The OH increased Cu intake and balance (P less than .05). All fiber sources increased Fe intake, but only SH and AM increased (P less than .05) Fe balance. Villus shape and surface morphology in jejunum and ileum examined by scanning electron microscopy (Trial 1 only) appeared to be independent of diet. However, jejunum villus morphologies of two pigs fed AM were characterized by loss of epithelial cells and microvilli at the villus apex, and ileum villi were blunted and frequently folded in one pig fed SH. Fiber sources at the levels included in a corn-soybean meal diet fed in this study had only a minimal impact on performance and utilization of minerals and N and intestinal structure, although apparent energy utilization was decreased.     

苜蓿草粉对杜洛克生长猪生长性能和养分消化的影响

将48头体重相近的杜洛克生长猪随机分成4组(每组4个重复),研究苜蓿草粉对杜洛克生长猪生长性能和养分消化的影响。结果表明:5%和10%的替代率使得生长猪的日增重显著增加(分别为10.4%、6.28%);料肉比下降不显著(7.62%、9.97%);对猪日采食量的影响也不显著。饲喂苜蓿草粉后降低了养分的消化率,而5%、10%替代组与对照组差异不显著。20%替代组的生长性能显著下降(P<0.05),养分消化率极显著降低(P<0.01)。     

Nutrient intake, digestibility, and blood metabolites of goats fed diets containing processed jatropha meal

This study was conducted to record the ideal source and level of alkali treatment to treat jatropha meal (JM) and to determine the effect of inclusion of variously processed JM (pJM) on nutrient intake, digestibility, blood metabolites and hormonal status in goats. The JM was treated with 10 g/kg sodium chloride and 5 g/kg calcium hydroxide. The content of phorbol ester and hemagglutination (HA) activity of JM and pJM were assessed. A feeding trial for 90 days was conducted in short-haired multipurpose goats (n?=?15; five per group). The experimental animals were offered oat (Avena sativa) straw ad libitum throughout the experimental period of 90 days. Each group was assigned to one of the three diets, viz. R₁—soybean meal, R₂—sodium chloride (10 g/kg dry matter, DM), and R₃—calcium hydroxide (5 g/kg DM), with pJM substituting 250 g/kg DM of crude protein (CP) of control (R₁). At the end of the feeding period, digestion trial of 7 days was conducted. Blood samples were collected at the end of the experimental period to assess the blood metabolites and hormonal status. The phorbol ester and HA activity were reduced considerably in pJM. The intake of DM, organic matter, CP, and nitrogen-free extract were comparable among all the groups. However, the intake of ether extract was significantly higher in pJM-fed groups. The hemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum urea, triiodothyronine and testosterone contents decreased in R₂ and R₃ as compared to R₁. Concentration of glucose and activity of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase increased (P?<?0.01) in goats fed pJM. It was concluded that phorbol ester content and HA activity markedly decreased by processing JM with sodium chloride and calcium hydroxide. However, they were not reduced to the levels of safe feeding, as reflected in unusual values of blood metabolites among the experimental animals.     

Effects of supplementation of high-dosing Trichoderma reesei phytase in the corn-wheat-soybean meal-based diets on growth performance,nutrient digestibility,carcass traits,faecal gas emission,and meat quality in growing-finishing pigs

We conduct this study to investigate the effects of corn-wheat-soybean meal (SBM)-based diet supplemented with high-dosing Trichoderma reesei phytase on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits, faecal gas emission and meat quality in growing-finishing pigs (29.71–110.58 kg live weight; 70-day-old to 166-day-old). A total of 56 crossbred pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] were used in 96-day experiment with a completely randomized block design. The growing period was from day 0 to 42, and the finishing period was from day 43 to 96. Pigs were randomly allocated to one of two treatments with seven replicate pens and four pigs (two barrows and two gilts) per pen and fed corn-wheat-SBM-based nutrient adequate basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 1500 FTU/kg diet Trichoderma reesei phytase. One phytase unit (FTU) was defined as the amount of enzyme that catalyses the release of one micromole phosphate from phytate per minute at 37°C and pH 5.5. Dietary supplement with Trichoderma reesei phytase had increased body weight on day 96 and average daily gain in days 0–96. Moreover, high apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of phosphorus (P) was observed in pigs fed with Trichoderma reesei phytase. However, the carcass traits, faecal gas emission and meat quality of pigs were unaffected by Trichoderma reesei phytase supplementation. In conclusion, supplementation of high-dosing Trichoderma reesei phytase (1500 FTU/kg diet) in the corn-wheat-SBM-based nutrient adequate basal diet increased body weight and the ATTD of P, while no adverse effects were observed on the production characteristics.