Abstract

Abstract The hypothesis that exogenous xylanase added to diets for gestating and lactating sows will increase the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of gross energy (GE) and total dietary fiber (TDF), and digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) was tested. Two diets for gestating and two diets for lactating sows containing corn, soybean meal, distillers dried grains with solubles, wheat middlings, and soybean hulls were formulated without or with 16,000 BXU per kg of exogenous xylanase (Econase XT; AB Vista, Marlborough, UK). Lactation diets contained an indigestible marker. Diets were fed to gestating and lactating sows in two reproductive cycles. A total of 106 gilts and sows were randomly allotted to the two gestation diets 7 d after breeding in a randomized complete block design with 4 blocks. On d 30 post-breeding, 8 non-pregnant animals were removed. From the remaining 98 animals, 48 sows (24 replicates per treatment, 12 sows per block) were placed in metabolism crates on d 35 (mid-gestation) for 10 d with feces and urine collected for 5 d. The same 48 sows were placed in metabolism crates again on d 95 (late-gestation). All sows were moved to the lactation unit on d 106 and lactation diet feeding was initiated. Fecal samples were collected (grab-sampling) for 5 d starting on d 10 post-farrowing. Sows were weaned on d 20 and 63 sows were rebred. Of these sows, 46 sows were placed in metabolism crates on d 35 and 95 as in the first cycle, and treatments in the farrowing unit were also as in the first cycle. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with sow as the experimental unit, diet as fixed effect, and block and replicate as random effects. Results indicated that in the first cycle, the ME in mid-gestation, and the ATTD of TDF, and DE and ME in late-gestation were greater (P < 0.05) in sows fed the xylanase-diet compared with the control diet (Table 1). During the first lactation period, sows fed the xylanase-diet had greater (P < 0.05) ATTD of TDF and GE and greater (P < 0.05) DE than sows fed the control diet. During the second gestation period, sows fed the xylanase-diet had greater (P < 0.05) DE and ME in mid- and late-gestation, but no differences were observed in ATTD of TDF (Table 2). During the second lactation period, sows fed the xylanase-diet had greater (P < 0.05) ATTD of TDF and GE and greater (P < 0.05) DE than sows fed the control diet. In conclusion, DE was greater in the xylanase-diet than the control diets during two reproductive cycles, and sows fed lactation diets with xylanase had greater digestibility of fiber.

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