Abstract
The present study was performed in order to evaluate the effects of lower than usual industry levels of dietary trace minerals on plasma levels, faecal excretion, performance, mortality and morbidity in growing-finishing pigs in a hot African climate. Group 1 (n = 100 pigs) received a diet with common industry levels of trace minerals. Group 2 (n = 100 pigs) received reduced dietary trace mineral levels but were fed the same basic diet as Group 1. Mortality, morbidity, pig performance and carcass measurements were evaluated. Two pigs in Group 1 and three pigs in Group 2 died. Thirteen pigs in Group 1 and 27 pigs in Group 2 were medically treated (P < 0.05). Carcass masses, back fat depth, loin depth, and lean percent were not significantly different between the groups. However, the carcasses when evaluated revealed a non-significant higher back fat thickness, lower loin eye area and percentage of fat-free lean in barrows compared to gilts within each group. Despite lower initial masses, pigs fed diets containing industry levels of trace minerals were heavier (P < 0.05) and had a higher (P< 0.05) than average daily gains compared to those that received a diet containing lower levels of trace minerals. Faecal zinc excretion was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in pigs fed with lower dietary zinc levels. Copper, manganese and iron excretion were not affected (P > 0.05) by the dietary levels of these trace minerals. Plasma trace mineral concentrations were not affected by the dietary treatment.
Highlights
Higher than usual levels of zinc and copper recom mended for the pig production industry by the Na tional Research Council, USA (1998) are often add ed for disease prophylaxis or growth promotion in
It has been demonstrated that reducing dietary trace mineral levels does not affect pigs growth performance (Creech, Spears, Flowers, Hill, Lloyd, Armstrong & Engle 2004)
Two pigs (1 gilt and 1 barrow) died in Group 1, and three pigs died in Group 2
Summary
Higher than usual levels of zinc and copper recom mended for the pig production industry by the Na tional Research Council, USA (1998) are often add ed for disease prophylaxis or growth promotion in Accepted for publication 19 February 2009—Editor the diets of nursery and growing-finishing pigs in Central and Eastern Europe (Bilkei, Biro, Bölcskei, Clavadetscher, Orban, & Waller 1995). Klasing (2001) suggested that in order to optimize immune function and health, trace mineral requirements may be greater than requirements for growth perform ance. Higher than usual levels of zinc and copper recom mended for the pig production industry by the Na tional Research Council, USA (1998) are often add ed for disease prophylaxis or growth promotion in Accepted for publication 19 February 2009—Editor the diets of nursery and growing-finishing pigs in Central and Eastern Europe (Bilkei, Biro, Bölcskei, Clavadetscher, Orban, & Waller 1995). It has been demonstrated that reducing dietary trace mineral levels does not affect pigs growth performance (Creech, Spears, Flowers, Hill, Lloyd, Armstrong & Engle 2004). The same authors found that in many Eastern European pig units, higher dietary levels than suggested by the National Research Council (1998) regarding zinc (150–3 000 ppm), copper (17–80 ppm), manganese (50–136 ppm) and iron (350–601 ppm), were fed
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