Nutritional value of a new source of cheese coproduct fed to weanling pigs.

Three experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that values for standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) and metabolizable energy (ME) in a the cheese coproduct are greater than in fish meal or enzyme-treated soybean meal (ESBM). The second objective was to test the hypothesis that pigs fed a diet containing cheese coproduct will have growth performance that is not different from that of pigs fed other sources of protein. In experiment 1, eight ileal-cannulated barrows (11.0 ± 0.4 kg) were allotted to a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with four diets and four periods and two pigs per diet in each period. The four diets included an N-free diet and three diets that contained ESBM, fish meal, or the cheese coproduct as the source of AA. Results indicated that the cheese coproduct had greater (P < 0.05) SID of most AA compared with ESBM and fish meal. In experiment 2, 32 weanling barrows (14.0 ± 1.1 kg) were housed individually in metabolism crates and randomly allotted to one of four diets. A corn-based diet and three diets that contained corn and ESBM, fish meal, or cheese coproduct were formulated. Feces and urine were collected quantitatively. The ME in cheese coproduct was greater (P < 0.05) than in ESBM and fish meal. In experiment 3, 128 weaned pigs (6.2 ± 0.6 kg) were allotted to a randomized complete block design with four treatments and 8 replicate pens per diet. Phase 1 diets that contained 0%, 6.65%, 7.35%, or 14% cheese coproduct were fed from days 1 to 14 and a common phase 2 diet without cheese coproduct was fed from days 15 to 28. Individual pig weights were recorded at the beginning of the experiment, on days 14 and 28, and daily feed allotments were also recorded. Two blood samples were collected from 1 pig per pen on day 14 to analyze for blood urea N, albumin, total plasma protein, peptide YY, immunoglobulin G, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10. No differences were observed in average daily gain among treatments, but there was a tendency (P < 0.10) for total protein on day 14 to increase as cheese coproduct increased in the diets. In conclusion, the cheese coproduct used in this experiment has a greater SID of AA and greater ME than ESBM and fish meal and the cheese coproduct may be included in prestarter diets for weanling pigs without negatively impacting growth performance or indicators of intestinal health.

Milk proteins are highly digestible and have an excellent balance of indispensable amino acids (AA), but the price of dairy products are expensive compared with other protein sources. However, cheese that cannot be used for human consumption may be used in diets for pigs, but there is limited information about the nutritional value of cheese coproducts. Therefore, three experiments were conducted to determine the standardized ileal digestibility of AA, and the metabolizable energy (ME) of a cheese coproduct and effects of inclusion of different levels of cheese coproduct in phase 1 (1 to 14 d postweaning) diets for weanling pigs. Results demonstrated that the cheese coproduct has an excellent digestibility of AA and due to its greater ME than fish meal and enzyme-treated soybean meal, cheese coproduct can be used to increase the energy density of diets for weanling pigs without affecting the health or growth performance of pigs.

Influence of a novel consensus bacterial 6-phytase variant on mineral digestibility and bone ash in young growing pigs fed diets with different concentrations of phytate-bound phosphorus.

A 20-d experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that phytase increases nutrient digestibility, bone ash, and growth performance of pigs fed diets containing 0.23%, 0.29%, or 0.35% phytate-bound P. Within each level of phytate, five diets were formulated to contain 0, 500, 1,000, 2,000, or 4,000 phytase units (FTU)/kg of a novel phytase (PhyG). Three reference diets were formulated by adding a commercial Buttiauxella phytase (PhyB) at 1,000 FTU/kg to diets containing 0.23%, 0.29%, or 0.35% phytate-bound P. A randomized complete block design with 144 individually housed pigs (12.70 ± 4.01 kg), 18 diets, and 8 replicate pigs per diet was used. Pigs were adapted to diets for 15 d followed by 4 d of fecal collection. Femurs were collected on the last day of the experiment. Results indicated that diets containing 0.35% phytate-bound P had reduced (P < 0.01) digestibility of Ca, P, Mg, and K compared with diets containing less phytate-bound P. Due to increased concentration of total P in diets with high phytate, apparent total tract digestible P and bone ash were increased by PhyG to a greater extent in diets with 0.29% or 0.35% phytate-bound P than in diets with 0.23% phytate-bound P (interaction, P < 0.05). At 1,000 FTU/kg, PhyG increased P digestibility and bone P more (P < 0.05) than PhyB. The PhyG increased (P < 0.01) pig growth performance, and pigs fed diets containing 0.35% or 0.29% phytate-bound P performed better (P < 0.01) than pigs fed the 0.23% phytate-bound P diets. In conclusion, the novel phytase (i.e., PhyG) is effective in increasing bone ash, mineral digestibility, and growth performance of pigs regardless of dietary phytate level.

Nutritional value of a new source of fermented soybean meal fed to growing pigs.

Three experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA), concentrations of digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME), and the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P in a new source of fermented soybean meal (Fermex 200) are greater than in conventional soybean meal (SBM-CV). In experiment 1, 9 barrows (initial body weight: 9.17 ± 1.03 kg) were surgically fitted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum and allotted to a triplicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. A nitrogen-free diet and 2 diets that contained cornstarch and SBM-CV or Fermex 200 as the sole source of crude protein (CP), and AA were formulated. Results indicated that there were no difference between SBM-CV and Fermex 200 for SID of CP and AA. In experiment 2, 24 growing pigs (initial body weight: 14.19 ± 1.18 kg) were housed individually in metabolism crates. Pigs were allotted to a corn-based diet or 2 diets that contained corn and SBM-CV or corn and Fermex 200. Feces and urine samples were collected using the marker-to-marker approach with 5-d adaptation and 4-d collection periods. Results indicated that the concentration of DE and ME in Fermex 200 were not different from DE and ME in SBM-CV. In experiment 3, 40 barrows (initial body weight: 11.01 ± 1.38 kg) were allotted to 1 of 4 diets with 10 replicate pigs per diet. Four diets were formulated to contain Fermex 200 or SBM-CV and either 0 or 1,000 units/kg of microbial phytase. Pigs were housed individually in metabolism crates. Fecal samples were collected as explained for experiment 2. Results indicated that the STTD of P in Fermex 200 was greater (P < 0.01) than in SBM-CV, but the addition of microbial phytase to the diets increased the ATTD and STTD of P in SBM-CV, but not in Fermex 200 (interaction; P < 0.01). In conclusion, the SID of AA and concentrations of DE and ME in Fermex 200 were not different from values determined for SBM-CV, but the STTD of P was greater in Fermex 200 than in SBM-CV if microbial phytase was not added to the diet.

Crystalline amino acids do not influence calculated values for standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in feed ingredients included in diets for pigs.

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that addition of crystalline amino acids (AA) to diets during the adaptation or collection periods will not influence calculated values for apparent ileal digestibility (AID) or standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA in corn and soybean meal (SBM). Seven ileal-cannulated barrows (initial body weight: 77.9 ± 2.6 kg) were allotted to a 7 × 7 Latin Square design with 7 dietary treatments and 7 periods. Dietary treatments included feeding diets based on corn or SBM without or with crystalline AA for the entire 7-d period or with crystalline AA during the adaptation period, but without crystalline AA during the collection period. An N-free diet was also used. Each experimental period consisted of 5 d of adaptation to the diets followed by 2 d of ileal digesta collection, with digesta being collected for 9 hr/d starting after feeding the morning meal. Thus, the entire experiment lasted 49 d. The AID and SID of crude protein (CP) and AA were calculated using values determined in corn or in SBM without or with crystalline AA to determine if crystalline AA influenced calculated values for AID or SID of CP and AA. Results indicated that addition of crystalline AA to diets fed during the entire 7-d period increased (P < 0.05) AID of some AA in corn and SBM. However, no differences in SID of CP and AA were observed between pigs fed the diets without crystalline AA and pigs fed the diets with crystalline AA if dietary crystalline AA were ignored in calculations of SID values. This indicates that crystalline AA were 100% absorbed before the distal ileum and did not affect calculated values for SID of AA if calculations were based only on the AA in corn or SBM. Therefore, it is concluded that crystalline AA may be added to experimental diets in digestibility experiments before and during collection periods without affecting results, if crystalline AA are disregarded in the calculation of AID or SID of AA in ingredients.

The direct and difference procedures result in similar estimates for amino acid digestibility in feed ingredients fed to growing pigs.

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that values for standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in corn, wheat, and wheat middlings obtained using the direct procedure are not different from values obtained using the difference procedure. Sixteen ileal-cannulated barrows (initial BW: 69.5 ± 5.0 kg) were allotted to a replicated 8 × 4 Youden Square design with 8 diets and 4 periods. Each period consisted of 5 d of adaptation to the diet and 2 d of collection of ileal digesta. Four diets were based on soybean meal (SBM), corn, wheat, or wheat middlings as the only AA-containing ingredients. Three additional diets were based on a mixture of SBM and corn, SBM and wheat, or SBM and wheat middlings, and an N-free diet was also used. The apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and the SID of crude protein (CP) and AA for the 4 diets containing SBM, corn, wheat, or wheat middlings as the sole source of AA were calculated using the direct procedure. The AID and SID of CP and AA for the 3 mixed diets containing SBM and corn, wheat, or wheat middlings were also calculated and the contribution of digestible AA from SBM was subtracted from the AID or SID values for the diets. The AID or SID of AA in corn, wheat, and wheat middlings were subsequently calculated by difference. Results indicated that the AID values for a few AA were lower (P < 0.05) if the direct procedure was used instead of the difference procedure, regardless of ingredient. The AID of Trp was greater in corn and wheat middlings, and the SID of Trp in corn and wheat middlings tended to be greater, if the direct procedure rather than the difference procedure was used, but that was not the case for wheat (interaction, P < 0.05 and P < 0.10, respectively). However, for all other indispensable AA, and for most of the dispensable AA, the SID of AA in corn, wheat, and wheat middlings was not different between the difference procedure and the direct procedure. Therefore, values for SID of AA in cereal grains and fiber-rich ingredients may be determined using either the direct or the difference procedure.

Excessive heating of 00-rapeseed meal reduces not only amino acid digestibility but also metabolizable energy when fed to growing pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that both the degree of heating and the time that heat is applied will affect the concentration of DE and ME, and the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in 00-rapeseed meal (00-RSM) fed to growing pigs. The nine treatments were prepared using a conventional 00-RSM that was either not autoclaved or autoclaved at 110 °C for 15 or 30 min or at 150 °C for 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, or 18 min. In experiment 1, 20 growing barrows with an average initial BW of 21.2 ± 1.2 kg were randomly allotted to the 10 diets in a replicated 10 × 4 Youden square with 10 diets and four periods in each square. A corn-based basal diet and nine diets containing corn and each source of 00-RSM were formulated. Urine and fecal samples were collected for 5 d after 7 d of adaptation. In experiment 2, nine diets contained one of the nine sources of 00-RSM as the sole source of AA, and an N-free diet that was used to measure basal endogenous losses of AA and CP was formulated. Twenty growing barrows with an initial BW of 69.8 ± 5.7 kg had a T-cannula installed in the distal ileum and were allotted to a 10 × 7 Youden square design with 10 diets and 7 periods. Ileal digesta were collected on days 6 and 7 of each 7-d period. Results from the experiments indicated that there were no effects of autoclaving at 110 °C on DE and ME or on AID and SID of AA in 00-RSM, but DE and ME, and AID and SID of AA were less (P < 0.01) if 00-RSM was autoclaved at 150 °C compared with 110 °C. At 150 °C, there were decreases (quadratic, P < 0.05) in DE and ME, and in AID and SID of AA as heating time increased. In conclusion, autoclaving at 110 °C did not affect ME or SID of AA in 00-RSM, but autoclaving at 150 °C had negative effects on ME and SID of AA and the negative effects increased as heating time increased.

Bioavailability of valine in spray-dried L-valine biomass is not different from that in crystalline L-valine when fed to weanling pigs1.

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that Val from a spray dried L-Val fermentation biomass (Val-FB; 64.4% L-Val) has a bioavailability of 100% relative to Val from L-Val (98% L-Val) when fed to weanling pigs. A Val-deficient basal diet containing 0.63% standardized ileal digestible (SID) Val was formulated. Six additional diets were prepared by supplementing the basal diet with 0.08%, 0.17%, or 0.25% L-Val or 0.12%, 0.25%, or 0.37% Val-FB to create experimental diets from both Val sources that contained 0.71%, 0.79%, or 0.87% SID Val. Two hundred twenty-four weaned pigs (6.87 ± 0.64 kg initial BW) were allotted to a randomized complete block design with 7 diets, 4 pigs per pen, and 8 replicate pens per diet. Diets were fed for 20 d. At the conclusion of the experiment, a blood sample from 1 pig per pen was analyzed for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and plasma free AA. A linear regression model was used to estimate the relative bioavailability (RBV) of Val in Val-FB relative to Val from L-Val. Results indicated that the final BW and ADG were greater (P < 0.01) for pigs fed diets supplemented with Val-FB than pigs fed diets supplemented with L-Val. The ADFI decreased (linear, P ≤ 0.01), whereas G:F increased (linear, P < 0.01) by increasing inclusion of both Val sources in the diets. Regardless of source of dietary Val, BUN values were reduced (linear and quadratic, P < 0.01) as the concentration of Val in the diet increased. Pigs fed diets supplemented with L-Val had increased (linear and quadratic, P ≤ 0.05) concentrations of Val and Arg in plasma, and plasma concentrations of Ile, Leu, Lys, Ala, Cys, and Pro linearly increased (P < 0.05). There was also an increase (linear, P < 0.05) in plasma concentrations of Ile, Leu, Met, Ala, Asp, Cys, and Pro as Val-FB was added to the diets, and the concentration of Val in plasma increased (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05). Using L-Val as the standard, the RBV of Val in Val-FB as determined by ADG, G:F, and final BW was 146%, 135%, and 143%, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals of 99% to 191%, 83% to 187%, and 70% to 217%, respectively. In conclusion, the linear regression estimated a RBV of at least 100% for Val in Val-FB relative to Val from L-Val, and pigs fed diet supplemented with Val-FB had greater final BW, ADG, and G:F than pigs fed diets supplemented with the same amount of Val from L-Val.

Canola meal produced from high-protein or conventional varieties of canola seeds may substitute soybean meal in diets for gestating and lactating sows without compromising sow or litter productivity.

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that productivity of sows fed diets containing canola meal produced from high-protein or conventional varieties of canola seeds is not different from that of sows fed corn-soybean meal (SBM) diets. A total of 180 sows (initial BW: 207.8 ± 29.11 kg) were randomly allotted to 1 of 5 diets with 36 to 40 sows per diet. A 2-phase feeding program was used with gestation diets fed from day 7 of gestation to farrowing and lactation diets fed during the lactation period and from weaning to first estrus. The 5 diets within each phase consisted of a control diet based on corn and SBM, 2 diets were based on corn and high-protein canola meal (CM-HP) that was included to replace 50 or 100% of the SBM in the control diet, and 2 diets contained conventional canola meal (CM-CV) included to replace 50 or 100% of the SBM in the control diet. Soybean hulls were included in diets fed during gestation to standardize the concentration of NDF to approximately 13% in all diets. However, no soybean hulls were used in lactation diets resulting in increased concentrations of NDF as the dietary concentration of CM-HP or CM-CV increased. Results of the experiment indicated that there were no differences in sow BW changes during gestation, in sow BW on day 1 post-farrowing, or at weaning due to dietary treatments. No differences were observed among diets in ADFI during gestation or lactation or in the number of total pigs born, pigs born alive, still-born pigs, or weaned pigs per litter. Likewise, no differences were observed among diets in litter birth weight, live litter birth weight, litter BW at weaning, or litter ADG. As the inclusion level of CM-HP or CM-CV increased, the percentage of pigs surviving during the lactation period increased (linear, P < 0.05), but the wean to first estrus interval also increased as the dietary concentration of CM-CV increased (linear, P < 0.05). Average pig BW at weaning and pig ADG decreased (linear, P < 0.05) as the inclusion level of CM-HP increased. No differences were observed between CM-HP and CM-CV with the exception that pigs born from sows fed CM-CV during gestation had greater (P < 0.05) average live pig birth weight compared with pigs born from sows fed CM-HP during gestation. Results of this experiment indicate that CM-HP or CM-CV may replace all SBM in diets fed to sows during gestation and lactation.