Metabolizable energy of corn (maize) gluten feed and apparent digestibility of the fibrous components for gestating sows

Abstract

The metabolizable energy (ME), metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (ME n) and digestible energy (DE) of corn (maize) gluten feed (CGF) and apparent digestibility coefficients of its components were determined for gestating sows. Seven multiparous Yorkshise × Landrace sows at days 60–75 of gestation were placed in metabolism stalls. After a 14 day adjustment period, total collection of faeces and urine using bladder catheters was made for 7 days. The diet was 97% CGF fed at 2.6 kg day −1 (93% dry matter). Determined CGF energy values (±SD), on an as-fed basis, were 14.86 (±0.84) MJ DE kg −1, 13.84 (±0.93) MJ ME kg −1 and 13.61 (±0.85) MJ ME n kg −1. The sows retained 17.2 (±9.0) g day −1 nitrogen. Corn (maize) gluten feed apparent digestibility coefficients were: nitrogen, 72.3 (± 3.1)%; ether extract, 35.4 (± 12.0)%; neutral detergent fibre, 51.6 (± 9.1)%; acid detergent fibre, 47.4 (±8.4)%; lignin, 45.3 (± 15.8)%; cellulose, 54.3 (±6.5)%; and hemicellulosc, 54.0 (± 9.7)%. The energy values were 13–20% greater than the published CGF energy values for swine, probably because of the sow's greater ability to utilize fibre compared with growing pigs. The data have implications for the formulation of sow diets using CGF. However, because of the fibrous properties of CGF, the efficiency of ME utilization is likely to be low and thus, the net energy of CGF is considerably lower than the determined DE and ME values.