Fibrous feedstuffs for the nitrogen retention of growing pigs

Leonardo Tombesi Da Rocha,Arlei Rodrigues Bonet De Quadros,Marcos Speroni Ceron,Vladimir De Oliveira,Carlos Augusto Rigon Rossi,Josué Sebastiany Kunzler

doi:10.1590/0103-8478cr20180755

Leonardo Tombesi Da Rocha, Arlei Rodrigues Bonet De Quadros + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20180755

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Abstract

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to measure the nitrogen (N) balance of pigs fed with lysine-limiting diets containing practical levels of wheat bran (WB) or soybean hulls (SH). Twelve pigs with average weights of 57.36±2.01 and 72.68±3.24 kg were used in trials 1 and 2, respectively. In trial 1, treatments were CT1 - control diet and WB - diet with inclusion of 15% WB. In trial 2, CT2 - control diet and SH - diet with inclusion of 6% SH. Fibrous diets increased (P<0.05) the fecal N in 63.54 and 60.55% in relation to CT1 and CT2, respectively. The urinary N was higher (P<0.05) in pigs receiving the WB diet, but was not influenced in the trial with SH. The N retention (NRET) was higher (P>0.05) in pigs ingesting the WB diet; although, when the proportion of NRET was expressed relative to N ingested (NING) there was no difference (P>0.05) between treatments. Inclusion of SH did not affect (P>0.05) the NRET when the result was expressed in absolute or proportional terms. In conclusion, inclusion of practical levels of WB and SH does not significantly affect the metabolic costs involved with nitrogen metabolism. However, only WB was able to contribute to the N balance of pigs, while the relative amount of N added by SH was fully recovered in feces.

Highlights

The use of by products in diets for pigs can be an alternative to reduce feeding costs and to contribute to pig farming sustainability
Pigs fed with the wheat bran (WB) diet excreted about 43% more fecal N (NFEC) (P
Pigs fed with the WB diet absorbed 4.5 g d-1 of more N than those fed with CT1; in proportional terms there was a decrease of 2% of absorbed N (NABS) in the animals of the WB treatment

Summary

Introduction

The use of by products in diets for pigs can be an alternative to reduce feeding costs and to contribute to pig farming sustainability. The fiber content of many feedstuffs may cause alterations in digestion and utilization of dietary nutrients. The digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) is variable and dependent on its origin (LE GOFF & NOBLET, 2002). The effective contribution of NDF to the energy balance, for example, can be eventually considered null, because it increases endogenous losses and reduces the digestibility of other dietary nutrients (LIBAOMERCADO et al, 2006; NOBLET, 2007; METZLER & MOSENTHIN, 2008; BLANK et al, 2012). Fibrous feedstuffs contribute with amino acids (AA) to meet the maintenance and production requirements of pigs (NRC, 2012). The amount and digestibility of AA varies according to the ingredient; the presence of fiber may reduce the AA digestion and absorption

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