Evaluation of different dietary electrolyte balance in weanling pigs diets

Abstract

A total of 160 weanling pigs ((Duroc×Landrace)×Yorkshire; average initial body weight of 7.67±0.97kg, 28±1 d of age) were allotted into 1 of 4 treatments to determine effects of dietary electrolyte balance (dEB, Na+K−Cl mEq/kg of the diet) on growth performance and nutrient digestibility. Pigs were fed 4 diets with different dEB levels: 0, 83, 166, and 250mEq/kg of dEB for 4 weeks. Various dEB values were obtained by altering the concentrations of calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, and sodium bicarbonate. Pigs fed diets with dEB of 166 and 250mEq/kg exhibited greater average daily gain (ADG) than those fed 0mEq/kg diet throughout the experiment (P<0.05). During d 14–28 and d 0–28, the average daily feed intake (ADFI) was greater in 166 and 250mEq/kg dietary treatments compared with 0mEq/kg dietary treatment (P<0.05). However, no difference was observed on gain to feed ratio between dietary treatments throughout the experiment (P>0.05). 166 and 250mEq/kg dietary treatments had greater apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter and nitrogen compared with 0mEq/kg dietary treatment (P<0.05). There was no effect on ATTD of gross energy between dietary treatments (P>0.05). Taken together, these results suggested that weanling pigs obtained optimal growth performance and nutrient digestibility when fed diets with dEB in the range of 166–250mEq/kg.