PSIV-7 Diet nutrient digestibility and growth performance in weaned pigs fed steam-exploded canola meal

Abstract

Abstract Canola meal (CM) is widely included in swine diets, but its fiber matrix compromises its nutritional value. Whether steam-explosion with high pressure can increase nutrient digestibility of CM and hence growth performance in pigs is unknown. To explore, Brassica napus CM was processed with steam pressure at 700 or 1,100 kPa for 5 min followed by a sudden release of pressure to produce steam-exploded CM7 and CM11, respectively. Four diets containing 20% CM, CM7, CM11, or soybean meal (SBM) were formulated to provide 2.3 Mcal net energy (NE)/kg and 5.1 g standardized ileal digestible lysine/Mcal NE. From 2 weeks post-weaning, 256 pigs (BW, 10 kg) were fed the 4 diets for 4 weeks in a randomized complete block design with 16 blocks and 4 pigs per pen. Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and gross energy (GE) was 4.8, 4.3 and 3.7%-units lower (P < 0.05), respectively, for the 3 CM diets than the SBM diet, whereas diet digestible energy (DE) value was not different. Steam-explosion of CM did not affect diet ATTD of DM and GE, but reduced (P < 0.05) diet ATTD of CP. For the entire trial (day 1–28), steam-explosion at either 700 or 1,100 kPa increased (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI) of CM, but the CM diet had lower (P < 0.05) ADFI than the SBM diet. Average daily gain (ADG) did not differ among the 4 diets. Consequently, feed efficiency (G:F) was greater (P < 0.05) for the 3 CM diets than the SBM diet. In conclusion, steam-explosion of CM did not increase diet nutrient digestibility or growth performance of weaned pigs.