Sequential metabolizable energy plans for piglets from 7 to 30 kg

Jéssica Lira Da Silva,Taynah Vieira Aguiar Farias,Charles Kiefer,Anderson Corassa,Kelly Cristina Nunes Carvalho,Karina Márcia Ribeiro De Souza Nascimento,Gabriela Puhl Rodrigues,Stephan Alexander Da Silva Alencar

doi:10.1590/0103-8478cr20180255

Jéssica Lira Da Silva, Taynah Vieira Aguiar Farias + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20180255

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Abstract

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate sequential metabolizable energy (ME) plans, maintaining the lysine: calorie ratio for piglets from 7 to 30 kg. Forty eight female piglets with initial weight of 6.9 ± 1.2 kg and final weight of 30.5 ± 3.8 kg were randomly allocated in a randomized complete blocks design to three nutritional plans with eight replicates and two animals per experimental unit. Sequential plans provided four ME levels: plan 1: 3,300-3,250-3,200-3,150 kcal ME kg-1, plan 2: 3,400-3,350-3,300-3,250 kcal ME kg-1, and plan 3: 3,500-3,450-3,400-3,350 kcal ME kg-1 of feed, from 7 to 10 kg, 10 to 15 kg, 15 to 20 kg and 20 to 30 kg, respectively. From 7 to 10 kg, there was no effect (P>0.05) of the nutritional plans in the evaluated variables. From 7 to 15 kg, a higher (P<0.05) energy intake and weight gain and a better (P < 0.05) feed conversion was observed in animals fed with nutritional plans 2 and 3. Nutritional plans 2 and 3 resulted in higher (P<0.05) final weight, feed intake, energy intake, digestible lysine intake, weight gain, and better feed conversion in the 7 to 20 kg, 7 to 25 kg and 7 to 30 kg. It is recommended the sequential plan containing 3,400-3,350-3,300-3,250 kcal ME kg-1 of feed from 7 to 10 kg, from 10 to 15 kg, 15 to 20 kg, and from 20 to 30 kg; respectively, equivalent to levels of 2,546-2,513-2,501-2,475 kcal net energy (NE) kg-1 of feed for piglets.

Highlights

The post-weaning phase in piglets is often associated with diarrhea and reduced feed intake, which can lead to reduced energy consumption by the animal and changes in intestinal morphology, negatively affecting digestibility and nutrient absorption (LALLES et al, 2007)
While older pigs have the ability to regulate feed intake according to their energy requirement (NOBLET et al, 2001), there is evidence that weaned piglets do not yet have this control capacity, since studies have reported that increasing the energy concentration of the diet can stimulate consumption (ADEBOWALE et al, 2019) and the growth of piglets (ORENSAYA et al, 2008)
Results observed in the present study indicated that temperatures remained within the temperature range (22 to 26 °C) considered ideal for this category of piglets (KUMMER et al, 2009)

Summary

Introduction

The post-weaning phase in piglets is often associated with diarrhea and reduced feed intake, which can lead to reduced energy consumption by the animal and changes in intestinal morphology, negatively affecting digestibility and nutrient absorption (LALLES et al, 2007). While older pigs have the ability to regulate feed intake according to their energy requirement (NOBLET et al, 2001), there is evidence that weaned piglets do not yet have this control capacity, since studies have reported that increasing the energy concentration of the diet can stimulate consumption (ADEBOWALE et al, 2019) and the growth of piglets (ORENSAYA et al, 2008). As it directly affects feeding costs (PATIENCE et al, 2013), understanding the impact of the energy fraction of the diet on the performance of piglets is fundamental to the profitability of Approved 07.28.20 Returned CR-2018-0255.R4 by the author. Recommendations of the authoritative nutrient requirement tables vary from 3,265 kcal of ME kg-1 of feed (NRC, 1998) to 3,400 kcal of ME kg-1 of feed (ROSTAGNO et al, 2011; NRC, 2012; ROSTAGNO et al, 2017)

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