The Use of Jerusalem Artichoke Flour in Pig and Chicken Diets

Abstract

ABSTRACT A cooked spray-dried flour produced from the tuber of Jerusalem artichoke, which contained 77.5% soluble carbohydrate (33.3% GF 1–2 , 46.4% GF 3–4 and 20.3% GF ≥5 ) was incorporated into weaner pig diets and chick starter diets. Weaned pigs (15 pens of three pigs/diet group) were fed either a control diet, one containing 1.5% Jerusalem artichoke flour, or one containing 1.5% purified neosugars. There were no significant differences in the feed intake, body weight gain, or feed efficiency between groups. However, there was a very pronounced difference in the smell of the manure from the pigs, depending on the diet they received. The chicks (six pens of eight birds/diet group) received either a control diet, or one containing 1%, 5% or 10% Jerusalem artichoke flour, or purified neosugars. The birds receiving the diets with either the Jerusalem artichoke flour or the neosugars had increased feed consumption and body weight gain, but poorer feed efficiency. The incorporation of Jerusalem artichoke flour in the diets of pigs or chicken may have benefits in production efficiency, as well as barn environment improvement.