Effects of YGF251 on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and fecal gas emission of finishing pigs

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examined the effects of young growth factor (YGF251) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and fecal gas emission of finishing pigs. A total of 80 119-day-old crossbred finishing pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc], with an average initial body weight (BW) of 65.53 ± 3.89 kg, were used in a 61-day experiment with a completely randomized block design. The pigs were fed with either a basal control diet (CON) or a basal diet supplemented with 0.04% YGF251 (YGF). There were 10 replicate pens per treatment, with four pigs (two barrows and two gilts) per pen. In this study, pigs consuming the YGF251-supplemented diet had a higher average daily gain (ADG) and growth rate, as well as a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR), than the pigs consuming the CON diet. Moreover, with regard to meat quality, increased water-holding capacity (WHC) and decreased drip loss on day 7 were observed in pigs consuming the YGF diet. However, nutrient digestibility and fecal gas emission did not differ between the CON and YGF diet groups. In conclusion, the YGF251 diet group showed superior growth performance, WHC, and drip loss.