PSV-6 Effects of Boron Supplementation on Apparent Digestibility and Retention of Nutrients in Growing Pigs

Abstract

Abstract An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of boron (B) supplemented to a corn-soybean meal diet on apparent digestibility and retention of nutrients in growing barrows. A total of 24 barrows (mean initial BW = 61.15 ± 2.45 kg) were allotted to 3 dietary treatments with 8 replicates. Dietary treatments consisted of 0, 5, and 25 mg B/kg diet as sodium tetraborate decahydrate (Na2 B4 O7∙10 H2O; 11.34% B) which were fed from weaning onward. Barrows underwent a 5-7 d adaptation period to the meal allowance and metabolism crate which was followed by a 5-d total fecal and urine collection using the marker to marker method. Barrows were fed at 2.7% of their metabolic BW (2.7 x maintenance ME needs [2.7 × 106 Kcal ME/kg BW0.75]) during the adaptation and collection periods in a gruel form (feed:water, 1:1 wt/vol). Data were analyzed using the Proc GLM procedure of SAS with the individual pig as the experimental unit. Supplemental B did not affect (P > 0.05) energy, lipid, nitrogen, calcium, or phosphorus apparent digestibility and retention. However, there was a linear increase observed in both magnesium absorption (P = 0.01; 0.24, 0.26, and 0.32 g/d, respectively) and digestibility (P = 0.04; 22.35, 23.56, and 28.49 %, respectively) to increasing B supplementation. Absolute retention of magnesium did not differ (P > 0.05; 0.13, 0.14, and 0.17 g/d, respectively). In conclusion, supplementing B at 5 and 25 mg B/kg diet resulted in an increase in magnesium absorption and digestibility with no adverse effects observed on apparent digestibility and retention of other nutrients.