INFLUENCE OF SUBSTITUTING HIGHER FIBER INGREDIENTS FOR CORN ON THE DIGESTIBILITY OF DIETS AND PERFORMANCE OF SOWS AND LITTERS

Abstract

Twenty-four Swedish Landrace × Large White sows were individually fed one of four diets throughout gestation and lactation under confinement conditions at the Sombor Kombinat, Yugoslavia. The 80% yellow corn in the control diet was replaced by 80% corn and cob meal, 50% corn and cob meal and 30% dried beet pulp, or 50% corn and cob meal and 30% wheat middlings in the other higher fiber diets. A standard protein supplement of 10% soybean meal, 4% sunflower meal and 3.5% fishmeal was included in the diets.Observed total digestible nutrients (TDN) and digestible energy (DE) were higher than calculated for the diets containing the higher fiber ingredients, suggesting that mature sows can digest some of these ingredients to a greater extent than can younger pigs on which analysis tables are based. The calculated DE in kcal/kg of corn and cob meal was 3428, dried beet pulp 3520, and wheat middlings 3155, assuming corn to be 3610 kcal/kg. The values used in formulation were 3080, 2860 and 3210 kcal/kg for the first three ingredients. Sows were most efficient in digesting organic nutrients on the 90th day of gestation, poorest on the 10th day of lactation and intermediate on the 30th day of gestation.Average number of pigs born alive was 9.9 and weaned was 8.8, with average pig weights at birth averaging 1.44 kg and at 5-week weaning, 14.1 kg. There were no significant differences between lots in litter performance, except that TDN required per kg gain adjusted for sow weight loss during lactation was greater for sows receiving 30% dried beet pulp. Sow gain during gestation was lower for this lot. Despite an overall DE intake for the complete reproductive cycle that was 23% in excess of present U.S. NRC nutrient requirements, the mature sows averaged only 3.6 kg heavier when they weaned their litters than when they were bred.