Net energy content of five fiber‐rich ingredients fed to pregnant sows

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the net energy (NE) values and energy efficiency of wheat bran (WB), sugar beet pulp (SBP), corn gluten feed (CGF), soybean hulls (SBH), and defatted rice bran (DFRB) fed to pregnant sows. Thirty-six multiparous pregnant sows were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments with six replicates per treatment. Each period lasted for 21days including 14days for adaptation. On day 15, sows were moved into respiration chambers for heat production (HP) measurement and provided feed at 544kJ/kg BW0.75 /day. On day 20, sows were fasted to measure the fasting heat production (FHP). Experimental diets included corn-soybean meal basal diet and five diets containing 29.20% WB, SBP, CGF, SBH, and DFRB, respectively. Results showed that inclusion of WB, SBP, CGF, SBH, and DFRB to basal diet decreased (p<0.05) the apparent total tract digestibility of energy and nutrients. The average adjusted total HP and FHP were 418kJ/kg BW0.75 /day and 326kJ/kg BW0.75 /day, respectively. The average NE:ME ratio of experiment diets was 82.5%. In conclusion, the NE values of WB, SBP, CGF, SBH, and DFRB were 9.05, 8.59, 8.37, 7.64, and 7.93MJ/kg DM, respectively.