Utilization of Energy of Wheat and Barley by Young Swine

Abstract

Two comparative slaughter experiments were conducted to determine the energy values of ground wheat and ground barley fed to young pigs. Ground wheat or barley fed in addition to the basal diet significantly improved daily gain and feed:gain ratio. The digestibility of dietary dry matter and energy increased, but the digestibility of nitrogen remained constant with the addition of wheat to the basal diet. Addition of barley to the basal diet significantly decreased the digestibility of dietary dry matter, energy and nitrogen. Digestible energy of the diet decreased slightly while metabolizable energy of the diet remained constant with the addition of wheat to the basal diet. As barley was added, however, both digestible and metabolizable energy of the diet decreased. Energy utilization of the diets was partitioned into the contribution of the basal diet and wheat or barley. Average energy values for ground wheat and barley in kilocalories per gram of dry matter were, respectively: gross energy 4.43, 4.33; digestible energy, 3.82, 3.76; metabolizable energy, 3.63, 3.61; nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy, 3.69, 3.54; and net energy, 2.45, 2.13.