The effects of various feed additives on growth performance of nursery pigs

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of various feed additives on growth performance of nursery pigs. An experiment was conducted in which pigs were fed a conventional Phase 1 diet containing: 1) no salmon protein hydrolysate (SPH) or spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP); 2-3) 1.5% SPH or SDPP; 4-5) 3.0% SPH or SDPP; or 6) 1.5% SPH and 1.5% SDPP. The results of this experiment showed growth performance was unaffected by source or level of protein during any growth phase. Overall gain:feed was greater (P = 0.08) for pigs fed the 1.5% level of protein than for those fed 3.0%, but there was no difference between protein sources. A second experiment was conducted in which pigs were fed a conventional Phase 1 diet (no mammalian protein) containing: 1) no SPH or SDPP; 2-3) 1.5% SPH or SDPP; or 4) 1.5% SPH and 1.5% SDPP. All pigs were fed common Phase 2 and 3 diets. The results of this experiment showed during Phase 1, gain:feed was greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed SDPP than for those fed SPH. During Phase 2, ADFI was greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed SPH than for those fed the control. During Phase 3, gain was greater (P = 0.08) for pigs fed SDPP than for those fed SPH. Overall growth performance was unaffected by protein source. An experiment was conducted in which pigs were fed Phase 1, 2, and 3 diets containing: 1) control; 2-5) 10.0% Nutri-Sure (NS), ground oat groats (GOG), ground steam rolled oats (SRO), or feeding oat meal (FOM). The results of this experiment showed during Phase 1, growth performance was unaffected by diet. During Phase 2, feed intake was greater (P < 0.09) for pigs fed GOG or SRO than for those fed NS. During Phase 3, feed intake was greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed FOM than for those fed the control. Overall gain:feed was greater (P < 0.03) for pigs fed NS or SRO than for those fed the control. The results of these experiments indicate that SPH, SDPP, NS, GOG, SRO, and FOM are adequate additions to nursery diets.