Corn-soybean Meal Control Research Articles

The effect of electronic cooling pads and Moringa oleifera supplementation from late gestation to weaning on sow production performance under heat stress conditions.

Lactating sows and their litters are particularly vulnerable to heat stress (HS). Heat stress decreases sow fertility, feed intake, milk production, and litter growth. Approaches are needed to mitigate the negative effects of HS on animal welfare and oxidative damage to tissues. The objective of this study was to measure the efficacy of conductive heat removal using electronic cooling pads (ECP) and feeding Moringa oleifera (4% of the diet, M), a feedstuff high in antioxidants, to sows from late gestation to weaning on their welfare and production performance. A study was conducted using a 2 × 2 factorial design of treatments, with mixed parity Yorkshire x Landrace sows (n=48). The sows were exposed to moderate heat stress conditions from gestation d110 to d21 of lactation. To achieve moderate heat stress, farrowing room temperature was increased incrementally daily from 25 º C to 32º C between 0800-1100 and decreased from 32º C to 26 ºC between 1700-2000. Sows were limit fed during gestation (1.36kg 2X/d) and fed ad libitum post farrowing. Treatments included HS+control corn-soybean meal based diet (HS+CS), HS+M, ECP+CS, ECP+M (n=12/treatment). Sow respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) were measured 4-times daily (0600, 1300, 1600, 1900). The use of ECP decreased lactating sow RR (HS = 66.6 bpm, ECP = 28.3 bpm, P < 0.0001), RT (HS = 39.2 ºC, ECP =38.8 ºC, P = 0.003), and lactation BW loss (HS= -21.67kg, ECP = -5.1kg P = 0.002). ECP by time-of-day interactions (P < 0.01) existed for RR and RT, with ECP having a greater impact from 1300 to 1900, than at 0600. ECP increased lactation feed intake (P = 0.02). An ECP by diet interaction (P= 0.0004) indicated ECP increased lactation feed intake for the sows fed the CS diet (6.48kg/d vs 4.42kg/d, P = 0.0004), but did not affect feed intake of sows fed the M diet. Treatment did not affect litter weaning weight (P = 0.14). Moringa increased percent fat in milk (M=12.28%, CS =11.06%, P = 0.05). The reduction in sow RR, RT, and increased feed intake with lower loss of BW, indicate that ECP improved sow wellbeing in the HS environment. Neither ECP or M affected litter growth, despite M increasing fat content of milk and ECP-CS increasing feed intake.

The interactivity of sources and dietary levels of resistant starches – impact on growth performance, starch, and nutrient digestibility, digesta oligosaccharides profile, cecal microbial metabolites, and indicators of gut health in broiler chickens

In a 21-d study, 480 Cobb 500 (off-sex) male broiler chicks were used to investigate the effects of feeding different sources and levels of resistant starches (RS) on growth performance, nutrient and energy utilization, and intestinal health in broiler chickens. The birds were allocated to 10 dietary treatments in a 3 × 3 + 1 factorial arrangement. The factors were 3 RS-sources (RSS): banana starch (BS), raw potato starch (RPS), and high-amylose corn starch (HCS); each at 3 levels (RSL) 25, 50, or 100 g/kg plus a corn-soybean meal control diet. Birds and feed were weighed on d 0, 8, and 21. On d 21, samples of jejunal tissue and digesta were collected for chemical analysis. Data were analyzed using the mixed model procedure of JMP with factor levels nested with the control. In the 0 to 21 phase, the birds fed the RPS diets had higher (P = 0.011) FI than those fed HCS or control diets, and FCR was greater (P = 0.030) in birds that received BS diets than in other diets. RSS × RSL was significant (P < 0.05) for total tract nutrient retention, AME, and AMEn on d 21. The starch digestibility was higher (P < 0.001) in birds that received the control diet than in RS diets, and decreased as RS levels increased, except for HCS. The apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn) were higher (P < 0.001) in birds fed 100 g/kg HCS diet, with both decreasing with increasing levels of BS and RPS, except for HCS. Relative ileal oligosaccharides profile showed significant (P < 0.05) RSS × RSL with a higher relative abundance of Hex(3) (P = 0.01) and Pent(3) (P = 0.001) in HCS diets. In conclusion, RS may influence gut health and growth performance in broiler chickens through modulation of cecal SCFA and nutrient digestion, but these depend largely on the botanical origin and concentrations of individual RS.

Inclusion of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NSMJ15 in broiler diets induces changes in jejunal immune cell population and cecal microbiota.

The objective was to investigate growth performance, antioxidant enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, immune cell distribution, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile, and microbiota in broiler chickens fed a diet containing Lacticaseibacillus paracasei NSMJ15. A total of 120 1-day-old Ross 308 male broilers were allocated to 2 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. A control group was fed a corn-soybean meal control diet, and an NSMJ15-supplemented group was fed a control diet supplemented with 1 g/kg L. paracasei NSMJ15 at the expense of cornstarch. Each dietary treatment had 6 replicates with 10 birds per cage. Growth performance was recorded on day 9. On day 10, one bird representing median body weight was selected to collect serum for antioxidant enzyme activity, jejunal tissue for immune cell isolation and morphometric analysis, and cecal digesta for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and SCFA analysis. Supplementation of L. paracasei NSMJ15 did not affect growth performance, serum antioxidant enzyme activity, and jejunal histomorphology compared to the control group. In the NSMJ15-supplemented group, the population of CD3+CD4+CD8- T cells increased (p = 0.010), while the population of CD3+CD8+TCRγδ+ T cells decreased (p = 0.022) compared to the control group. The L. paracasei NSMJ15 supplementation decreased (p = 0.022) acetate concentration in the cecal digesta compared to the control group. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis showed that NSMJ15-supplemented group differentially expressed (p<0.05) 10 more amplicon sequence variants compared to control group without affecting alpha and beta diversity indices of the cecal microbiota. Genera Mediterraneibacter and Negativibacillus were positively (p<0.05) correlated with CD4+ T cells, while genera Gemmiger, Coprococcus, Sellimonas, Massilimicrobiota, and Blautia were negatively (p<0.05) correlated with SCFA concentration. The results of the present study suggest dietary L. paracasei NSMJ15 supplementation may increase percentage of CD4+ T cells and decrease acetate concentration in broiler chickens by increasing the differential expression of specific microbial genera.

101 Supplementation of valine, isoleucine, and tryptophan may overcome the negative effects of dietary excess leucine in high protein corn protein when fed to weanling pigs

Abstract Inclusion of high protein corn protein (HPCP) in diets for weanling pigs may result in diets with excess Leu being formulated, which may reduce growth performance. However, it was hypothesized that the negative effect of using HPCP in diets for weanling pigs may be overcome if diets are fortified with crystalline Val, Trp, and (or) Ile. A total of 320 weanling pigs were randomly allotted to 10 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. Day 1 to 14 was phase 1 and d 15 to 28 was phase 2. Within each phase, a corn-soybean meal control diet and 2 diets based on corn and 10% HPCP or corn and 20% HPCP were formulated. Seven additional diets were formulated by adding Val, Ile, Trp, Val and Ile, Val and Trp, Ile and Trp, or Val, Ile, and Trp to the diet with 20% HPCP. Fecal scores were recorded every other day. Blood samples were collected on d 14 and d 28. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED of SAS; diet was the fixed effect and block and replicate within block were random effects. Inclusion of 10 or 20% HPCP in diets reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) final body weight (BW) on d 28, and also reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in phase 2 and for the overall experiment (Table 1). However, pigs fed the HPCP diet supplemented with Val, Ile, and Trp had a greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) final BW and ADG in phase 2 and for the overall experiment than pigs fed the HPCP diets without AA or with Ile, Trp, or Ile and Trp, and results for this diet were not different from results for the control diet. Fecal scores in phase 2 were reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) if 20% HPCP was included in the diets except if Ile and Val were also included (Table 2). On d 28, pigs fed the diet with 20% HPCP and only Val, Val and Trp, or Val, Trp, and Ile had reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.01) blood urea N compared with pigs fed the control diet or the other HPCP-based diets, and pigs fed the control diet and the diet with 20% HPCP and Val, Ile and Trp had a greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) albumin concentration than pigs fed the other diets (Table 3). Thus, the increased catabolism of Val, and reduced Trp transport into the brain that are caused by excess Leu from HPCP may be overcome by adding Val, Ile, and Trp to HPCP-based diets. In conclusion, up to 20% HPCP may be included in diets for weanling pigs without affecting growth performance or blood characteristics if diets are fortified with extra Val, Ile, and Trp.

113 Effect of Birth Weight on Tissue Copper, Iron, and Zinc Concentrations in Piglets

Abstract Pigs (n = 3,990) were used in a previous study to determine if supplemental zinc fed to sows at various timepoints during gestation would reduce pre-weaning mortality. Additionally, data were analyzed to evaluate the effect of birth weight on tissue concentrations and distribution of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in piglets. Mixed parity sows were fed 1 of 3 diets: a control corn-soybean meal diet containing 125 ppm supplemental Zn supplied by zinc hydroxychloride, a diet consisting of the control + 141 ppm supplemental Zn as ZnSO4 (266 ppm total supplemental Zn) fed from 5 days after breeding to farrowing, or the control diet fed from breeding to farrowing + 2,715 ppm of supplemental Zn from ZnSO4 (2,840 ppm total supplemental Zn) starting on day 110 of gestation until farrowing. Two low and 2 average birth weight pigs (n = 122) were selected from 10 sows per treatment group to assess Cu, Fe, and Zn concentrations of serum and tails. Serum was collected from each pig at day 1 of age and tails were collected on day 2 of age. Liver tissue was collected from a subset of pigs (n = 65) that died naturally or were euthanized within 2 days of age. The statistical model included fixed effects of treatment and farrowing group, the random effect of their interaction, and the random effect of pig nested within sow. Serum concentrations of each trace element did not differ by birth weight (Table). Low birth weight piglets had greater concentrations of Fe (P = 0.018) and Cu (P = 0.031) in their tails than average birth weight pigs. No differences were observed in tail Zn concentration by birth weight. Notably, pigs that died naturally weighed less at birth than euthanized pigs (P &amp;lt; 0.001). Moreover, pigs that died naturally had greater hepatic Fe concentrations (P &amp;lt; 0.001) and tended to have greater liver Cu concentrations (P = 0.098) compared with euthanized pigs. The associations between tissue iron and copper concentrations and birth weight of piglets may have nutritional and pathophysiological implications and thus warrant further investigation.

Evaluation of fermented corn protein and its effects in either high or low branch chain amino acid to leucine ratio diets on nursery pig performance and feed intake preference.

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate fermented corn protein (FCP) in nursery pig diets. The removal of non-fermentable components before fermentation of DDGS results in high protein dried distillers grains (HPDDGs). Fermented corn protein is produced when protein and yeast fraction syrup from ethanol production is added back to HPDDGs resulting in a product with up to 50% CP and 2% Lys. In Exp. 1, 350 barrows, initially 6.0 kg, were used to evaluate FCP as a replacement to enzymatically treated soybean meal. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial with main effects of specialty protein source (FCP or enzymatically treated soybean meal) and level (5 or 10%) or a control diet without any specialty protein source. There were 5 pigs per pen and 14 replications per treatment. From d 0 to 31, pigs fed enzymatically treated soybean meal had improved (P < 0.05) ADG and feed efficiency (G:F) compared to pigs fed FCP. In Exp. 2, 350 pigs, initially 12.1 kg, were used to determine the effects of FCP with high or low Ile and Val (Ile + Val):Leu ratio on growth performance. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial with main effects of FCP level (10 or 20%) and Ile + Val:Leu ratio (low or high) in addition to a corn-soybean meal control diet with 5 pigs per pen and 14 replications per treatment. From d 0 to 21, ADG, ADFI, and G:F worsened (linear, P < 0.001) as FCP increased. High Ile + Val:Leu improved (P < 0.05) G:F compared to low Ile + Val:Leu. In Exp. 3, 180 pigs, initially 7.7 kg, were used in a feed intake preference trial evaluating various FCP fractions. A total of 6 diet comparisons with 5 pigs per pen and 6 replications per comparison were used. Corn protein sources and fractions used included: FCP, HPDDGs, whole stillage solids (approximately 2/3 of FCP), and thin stillage solids (approximately 1/3 of FCP), and a control diet. Pigs preferred (P < 0.001) the control diet by consuming 82.5% of their intake compared with a diet containing FCP. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in feed consumption of diets containing whole stillage solids compared to FCP. Pigs preferred (P = 0.001) the diet containing thin stillage solids by consuming 75.8% of their intake with this diet compared to the diet containing FCP. In conclusion, feeding FCP decreased growth performance in nursery pigs, but increasing Ile + Val:Leu improved G:F. Diet preference comparisons suggest that whole stillage solids are the component of FCP that leads to reduced feed intake.

Effects of feeding solid-state fermented wheat bran on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens

Solid-state fermentation has been used to improve the nutritive value of feed ingredients. In the present study, we investigated the effects of solid-state fermented wheat bran (FWB) on growth performance and apparent digestibility in broiler chickens. We measured the growth performance (ADFI, ADG, feed conversion, livability, and European performance efficiency factor) over 38 d in chicks fed a corn-soybean meal control diet (CON) or CON plus wet FWB (25 g/kg [T1]; 50 g/kg [T2]); or T1 plus 3 g/kg (T3); or T2 plus 6 g/kg (T4) soybean oil). The same diets were used to determine nutrient availability in chicks aged 20 d. Regression equations for AME and AMEn were obtained using 20-day-old chicks fed either the corn-soybean meal basal diet only or basal diet partially substituted with 50, 150, or 300 g/kg DM FWB. Diets containing 25 or 50 g/kg wet FBW did not affect the growth performance of broiler chickens, nor the apparent DM, energy, and nitrogen digestibility of the feeds, compared with the control diets (all P > 0.05). Further supplementation with oil did not improve the growth performance of broiler chickens compared with controls or chickens fed FBW. However, chickens fed diets containing soybean oil (T3 or T4) had lower (P = 0.005 and P = 0.040, respectively) apparent DM and energy digestibility than the control and FWB groups. The regression equations for AME and AMEn with the substitution of FWB produced values of 1,854.3 and 1,743.9 kcal/kg DM, respectively, and the equations were Y = 1854.3X + 52.7 (R2 = 0.971, n = 24, P < 0.001), and Y = 1743.9X + 44.6 (R2 = 0.978, n = 24, P < 0.001), respectively. Supplementation with wet FWB did not affect the growth performance of broiler chickens. Therefore, FWB is a suitable feed component for broilers.

Effects of increasing dietary inclusion of camelina cake on growth performance of growing-finishing pigs.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the dietary inclusion rate of camelina cake (CC) that would support the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs similar to that of a corn-soybean meal-based diet. Pigs (n = 192; BW = 35.2 kg; Duroc x (Yorkshire x Landrace)), balanced for sex and initial weight, were assigned to pens (8 pigs/pen) and pens were assigned randomly to one of four dietary treatments (6 pens/treatment). Treatments consisted of a non GMO corn-soybean meal control diet (CON), or CON containing 5% (5CC), 10% (10CC), or 15% (15CC) camelina cake. Feed disappearance on a pen basis and individual body weights of pigs were recorded every other week to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain to feed ratio (G:F) on a pen basis. Prior to harvest, real-time ultrasonic measurements of back fat depth and loin eye area were collected on all live pigs. Pigs were harvested as a single group at about 23 weeks of age at a commercial abattoir. Data were analyzed using Proc Glimmix with dietary treatment as a fixed effect and pen serving as the experimental unit. Growth performance data collected over time were analyzed using repeated measures within the Proc Glimmix procedure. Overall, pigs fed CON exhibited similar ADG to those consuming 5CC and higher ADG than pigs consuming 10CC and 15CC diets (1.10 kg vs. 1.05 kg for 10CC and 1.02 kg for 15CC; P < 0.05 for both mean comparisons). Pigs fed CON consumed more feed than pigs fed any of the CC diets (ADFI = 2.66 kg for CON vs. 2.46 kg for 5CC, 2.46 kg for 10CC and 2.47 kg for 15CC; P < 0.05 for all). These differences resulted in heavier (P < 0.05) CON-fed pigs at marketing than 10CC or 15CC-fed pigs. There were no differences in any carcass traits analyzed. From these data, we conclude that feeding up to 5% CC in corn-soybean meal-based diets did not negatively influence growth performance, or carcass traits of growing-finishing pigs.

Effect of dietary lupine seeds (Lupinus luteus L.) and different insect larvae meals as protein sources in broiler chicken diet on growth performance, carcass, and meat quality

The present study was conducted to determine whether soybean meal (SBM) can be entirely replaced by a combination of lupine seeds and insect larvae meal as protein sources in a grower diet provided to broiler chickens during 21 to 42 d of life. The experiment involved 160 male broiler chickens. At 3 wk of age, broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments with 4 replicate pens per treatment and 8 broiler chickens per pen. Dietary treatments were: corn soybean meal control (CON), replacing 60% SBM with low-alkaloid yellow lupine seeds (Lup; Lup - SBM group), and replacing 100% of SBM with Lup, and full-fat insect meals from silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupae (Lup - BMM), mealworm (Tenebrio molitor; Lup - TMM) or superworm larvae (Zophobas morio; Lup - ZMM). No differences in the final body weight (42 d), and daily body weight gain (21 to 42 d) were found between broiler chickens fed the diets containing lupine in combination with soybean meal, silkworm or mealworm compared to those on the soybean meal diet. In contrast, broiler chickens from Lup - ZMM group had a lower body weight and weight gains compared with those from all other groups (P ≤ 0.01). The best feed conversion ratio (FCR) was found in broiler chickens of the Lup - TMM treatment (P < 0.05). Total replacement of SBM from broiler chickens diets had no effect on the relative weights of the liver and heart, but the gizzard weight was greater (P ≤ 0.05) in broiler chickens fed with lupine and insects larvae meal (ILM) - containing diets in comparison with both the CON and Lup - SBM diets. The crude protein content of the breast meat in broiler chickens fed on Lup - ZMM diet was greater (P ≤ 0.05) than in meat of broiler chicken fed the CON diet. Sensory evaluation of the cooked meat from broiler chicken receiving diets with Lup and SBM or Lup and ILM did not reveal any differences in meat quality traits. The results indicated that in grower diets SBM can be replaced by Lup in combination, with BMM or TMM without compromising in production and slaughter performances and sensory quality of broiler chickens meat after conventional cooking. The inclusion of Lup and 250 g/kg of ZMM to broiler chicken grower diet is not recommended, because adversely affected broiler chickens growth performance.

205 Dietary Strategies to Limit Average Daily Gain of Late Finishing Pigs

Abstract A total of 2,164 pigs [DNA610 x DNA241; initially 100.7 ± 2.14 kg body weight (BW)] were used in a 54.1 ± 3.85-day study to determine dietary strategies to limit average daily gain (ADG) in late finishing pigs raised in a commercial environment. Mixed-sex pens (20.0 ± 0.85 pigs/pen) balanced by initial BW and gender ratio were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments fed ad libitum with 27 replications each: (1) Nutritionally replete corn soybean-meal control (CTRL), (2) Treatment 1 with 21% reduced lysine and other amino acids (AAR), (3) Corn/vitamin/mineral diet (CVM), and (4) Treatment 3 fed for 21 days then switched to CTRL. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using a linear mixed model. Relative to CTRL, feeding AAR or CVM for 21 days reduced ADG (P &amp;lt; 0.001), average daily feed intake (ADFI; P = 0.005), and gain-to-feed (G:F, P &amp;lt; 0.001). Over 55-days, AAR and CVM diets reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.001) cumulative ADG, ADFI, G:F, and final BW compared to CTRL. Transitioning to CTRL diet from CVM diet after 21-days increased ADG (P &amp;lt; 0.001) and improved G:F (P &amp;lt; 0.001) from day 21 to marketing compared to 55-day CTRL, AAR, and CVM; nevertheless, the compensatory CTRL period was insufficient for the 21-day CVM fed pigs to fully compensate resulting in reduced cumulative BW, ADG (P &amp;lt; 0.001) and poorer G:F (P &amp;lt; 0.001) than the 55-day CTRL. All holding strategies decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.001) carcass yield, hot carcass weight (HCW), and loin depth compared to CTRL. Utilizing a CVM diet for 21 or 55 days increased (P &amp;lt; 0.001) backfat compared to CTRL or AAR. In summary, utilizing lysine deficient or corn/vitamin/mineral diets can limit ADG along with poorer G:F. Transitioning to a non-holding diet after feeding a corn/vitamin/mineral diet for 21-days resulted in compensatory gain, but reductions in growth performance and carcass traits remained evident.

Effect of almond hulls on the growth performance, body composition, digestive tract weight, and liver antioxidant capacity of broilers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of graded inclusion of almond hulls on growth performance, body composition, digestive tract weight, and liver antioxidant capacity of broilers. A total of 420 one-day-old Cobb male chicks was randomly allocated to 5 experimental treatments with 6 replicates of 14 birds each for 19 d of age. The five dietary treatments consisted of a corn-soybean meal control diet and 4 almond hull treatments containing 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% of almond hulls with 97.5, 95, 92.5, and 90% of the control diet, respectively. Feeding almond hulls at 10% reduced broiler body weight gain ( P ≤ 0.048) and increased feed conversion ratio ( FCR ; P < 0.01) at 0 to 7 and 0 to 14 d compared to the control group. Inclusion of almond hulls showed a quadratic effect ( P = 0.044) on body weight gain and linear effect ( P = 0.045) on FCR during 0 to 19 d of age. The numerically highest body weight gain was achieved when broilers were fed the diet containing 5% of almond hulls at 19 d of age. As the almond hull inclusion level increased, a linear ( P = 0.035) effect was observed on the relative whole intestine weight, whereas a quadratic ( P = 0.086) trend was observed on the relative gizzard weight at 19 d of age. Inclusion of almond hulls showed a quadratic ( P ≤ 0.011) effect on broiler body fat weight and fat percentage. Broilers fed the diet containing almond hulls at 5% had a lower body fat weight ( P = 0.011) and fat percentage ( P < 0.01) compared to the control group. Inclusion of almond hulls also showed a quadratic ( P = 0.075) trend on broiler body mineral content. Hepatic superoxidative dismutase linearly ( P < 0.01) increased as the level of almond hulls in the diet increased. In summary, inclusion of almond hull showed a beneficial effect on intestinal development and liver antioxidant capacity. Moreover, broilers fed the diet containing 5% almond hull showed an optimum body weight gain with lower body fat weight and fat percentage, whereas inclusion of up to 7.5% of almond hulls did not show any negative effects on growth performance.

272 Hybrid rye may replace up to 75% of the corn in diets for gestating and lactating sows without negatively impacting sow and piglet performance

Abstract An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that hybrid rye can replace corn in gestation and lactation diets without negatively affecting sow and litter performance. For gestation and lactation, a corn-soybean meal control diet and 3 additional diets in which hybrid rye replaced 25, 50, or 75% of corn were formulated. Sows were randomly allotted by parity to treatments, with 45 replicate sows per treatment. Sows were individually housed for the duration of the experiment. Sow BW were recorded on d 7 and d 105 of gestation, as well as within 24 h after farrowing and on the day of weaning (approximately d 20 of lactation). Number and weights of live born, still born, and mummified piglets were determined within 24 h of farrowing. Data related to piglet mortality were analyzed using SAS Proc Glimmix with binomial distribution, whereas all other data were analyzed using Proc Mixed. The statistical models included the fixed effects of diet and parity. Diet did not influence sow BW or sow ADG at any point in the experiment (Table 1). Diet did not affect number or weights of total, live, or still born pigs, but there was an increase and then a reduction in the number of pigs weaned, litter wean weight, and litter ADG as the inclusion of hybrid rye in the diets increased (quadratic, P &amp;lt; 0.05). Piglet mortality, as well as the proportion of piglets crushed by sows, tended (P &amp;lt; 0.10) to be quadratically reduced as hybrid rye was added to the diet. In conclusion, replacing corn with hybrid rye in gestation and lactation diets had no effect on sow BW changes nor on number or birthweights of piglets, and overall, diets with 25% and 50% corn replacement rate with rye resulted in improved sow lactation performance.

Effect of almond hulls as an alternative ingredient on broiler performance, nutrient digestibility, and cecal microbiota diversity

The objective of this study was to evaluate 2 types of almond hulls (prime hulls and California-type hulls) as alternative feed ingredients for broilers. A total of 560 one-day-old Cobb male chicks were randomly placed to 7 experimental treatments with 8 replicates of 10 birds each. Seven treatments consisted of a corn-soybean meal control diet and diets containing prime hulls or California-type hulls at 3, 6, and 9%. The nitrogen-corrected true metabolizable energy, crude protein, and crude fiber from prime hulls and California-type hulls were 1,624 and 1,514 kcal/kg, 4.8 and 5.0%, and 13.1 and 26.45%, respectively. During 0–19 d of age, the inclusion of the prime hulls at 3 levels had no significant effects on growth performance, but the California-type hulls at 9% increased feed intake (P = 0.02) and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.01), compared with control. The prime hulls at 9% decreased (P < 0.01) ileal dry matter and ileal nitrogen digestibility, and the California-type hulls at 9% only decreased ileal dry matter digestibility, but both prime hulls and California-type hulls at 6% had no effects on ileal dry matter digestibility and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy compared to control. In addition, inclusion of prime hulls at 3% decreased (P < 0.01) AMEn compared with control group. There were no significant differences in cecal microbiota diversity at a phylum or genus level among treatments, but 9% inclusion rate of the California-type hulls increased (P < 0.05) the population of certain bacteria in the genus Clostridium and Oscillospira compared with control. In conclusion, as a dietary energy and fiber source, the prime hulls can be used at up to 9% without a negative effect on body weight gain, whereas the California-type hulls can be used up to 6%.

The effects of high-oleic peanuts as an alternative feed ingredient on broiler performance, ileal digestibility, apparent metabolizable energy, and histology of the intestine.

Locally grown feed ingredients of high energy and protein content, such as peanuts, maybe economically feasible alternatives to corn and soybean meal in broiler diets. Even though normal-oleic peanuts have been demonstrated to be a viable feed ingredient for poultry, few studies to date have examined the use of high-oleic peanuts (HO PN) as an alternative feed ingredient for broiler chickens. Thus, we aimed to determine the effect of feeding HO PN on broiler performance, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal morphology. Three isocaloric, isonitrogenous experimental diets were formulated with 1) dietary inclusion of ~10% coarse-ground whole HO PN; 2) a corn-soybean meal control diet with 5.5% added poultry fat; and 3) a control diet supplemented with 5.5% oleic fatty acid oil. Three-hundred Ross 708 broilers were randomly placed in 10 replicate pens per treatment with 10 chicks per pen and raised until 42 d. Body weights (BW) and feed intake were determined weekly, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. Jejunum samples were collected at 42 d for histomorphometric analysis. Analysis of variance was performed on all variables using a general linear mixed model in JMP Pro14. Broilers in the HO PN group had lower (P < 0.05) BW and higher FCR than other treatment groups at weeks 2 and 6. There were no significant differences in the jejunum villi surface area between the treatment groups. However, broilers fed the HO PN diet had greater (P = 0.019) apparent metabolizable energy relative to the other treatment groups, suggesting improved nutrient uptake of dietary fats and/or carbohydrates in the HO PN treatment group. However, additional studies are warranted to further define the nutritional value of HO PN as an alternative poultry feed ingredient.

Effects of feeding high-protein corn distillers dried grains and a mycotoxin mitigation additive on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and pork fat quality of growing-finishing pigs.

Two experiments investigated the effects of feeding diets containing 30% of novel high-protein distillers dried grains (HP-DDG) sources to growing–finishing pigs on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and pork fat quality. A four-phase feeding program was used in both experiments, and diets within phases were formulated based on National Research Council (NRC; 2012) recommendations for metabolizable energy and standardized ileal digestible amino acid content of HP-DDG. In Exp. 1, a total of 144 pigs (body weight [BW] = 20.3 ± 1.6 kg) were fed either corn-soybean meal control diets (CON) or 30% HP-DDG diets (HP-DDG) containing 0.7 mg/kg deoxynivalenol (DON), 0.1 mg/kg fumonisins (FUM), and 56 μg/kg zearalenone (ZEA) for 8 wk. On week 9, a mycotoxin mitigation additive (MA) was added to CON and HP-DDG diets, resulting in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of: CON, CON + MA, HP-DDG, and HP-DDG + MA. Pigs fed HP-DDG had lower (P < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) compared with those fed CON during the first 8 wk. After MA was added to diets, pigs fed HP-DDG diets without MA had lower (P < 0.05) overall ADG than those fed HP-DDG + MA and less (P < 0.05) final BW than pigs fed CON or CON + MA. Adding MA to HP-DDG diets containing relatively low concentrations of mycotoxins was effective in restoring growth performance comparable to feeding CON. In Exp. 2, a different source of HP-DDG was used, and mycotoxin MAs were added to all diets at the beginning of the trial. A total of 144 pigs (BW = 22.7 ± 2.3 kg) were fed either a corn-soybean meal control diet or a 30% HP-DDG diet containing 0.5 mg/kg DON and 0.8 mg/kg FUM for 16 wk. Pigs fed HP-DDG diets had less (P < 0.01) final BW and ADG than pigs fed CON, but there were no differences in ADFI. Feeding the HP-DDG diets reduced (P < 0.01) hot carcass weight, carcass yield, longissimus muscle area (LMA), and percentage of carcass fat-free lean compared with pigs fed CON but did not affect backfat (BF) depth. Pigs fed HP-DDG had less (P < 0.01) saturated fatty acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content and greater (P < 0.01) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and iodine value in BF than pigs fed CON. These results suggest that feeding diets containing relatively low concentrations of co-occurring mycotoxins can be detrimental to growth performance, and the addition of MA alleviated the growth reduction. Feeding 30% HP-DDG reduced BW, ADG, carcass yield, LMA, and percentage of fat-free lean of growing–finishing pigs but yielded acceptable pork fat quality.

Effects of adding liquid lactose or molasses to pelleted swine diets on pellet quality and pig performance.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of including liquid lactose (LL) and molasses (M) in swine diets on pellet quality and pig performance. In experiment 1, a total of 194 nursery pigs (DNA 241 × 600, initially 6.7 ± 0.4 kg at 27 d of age) were used in a 33-d experiment evaluating the effects of LL (SweetLac 63; Westway Feed Products, Tomball, TX) or cane molasses on nursery pig performance and pellet quality. Pelleted experimental diets were fed from d 0 to 21, and a common pelleted diet fed from d 21 to 33. Dietary treatments consisted of a control diet containing 19.1% total sugars from whey powder and whey permeate and experimental diets with a percentage of whey permeate replaced by either 5% or 10% LL or 9.4% cane molasses (5 LL, 10 LL, and 9.4 M, respectively). Hot pellet temperature and production rate decreased (P < 0.05) from the control to 9.4 M treatments with 5 LL and 10 LL having intermediate effects. Pellet durability index (PDI) increased (P < 0.05) in 5 LL, 10 LL, and 9.4 M, respectively. From d 0 to 7, pigs fed the 10 LL and 9.4 M treatment had the best G:F followed by the control and 5 LL treatments. From d 0 to 21, ADFI had a marginally significant improvement (P < 0.10) in pigs fed up to 10 LL in the diet. Fecal consistency scores at d 7 were also firmer (P < 0.05) in pigs fed 9.4 M compared with pigs fed the control or 5 LL treatments with pigs fed the 10 LL treatment being intermediate. There was no evidence for differences in fecal consistency scores for d 14. In experiment 2, a total of 289 finishing pigs (DNA 241 × 600; initially 53.5 ± 0.5 kg BW) were used in a 53-d experiment evaluating the effects of LL on pellet quality and finishing pig performance. Experimental diets were fed in pelleted form from d 0 to 53 divided into three phases. Dietary treatments were a corn-soybean meal control diet with 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% LL added in the place of corn. PDI improved (linear, P < 0.01) with increasing inclusion of LL. There were no differences in ADG, ADFI, final BW, or carcass characteristics. Pigs fed diets with increasing levels of LL tended to have improved (quadratic, P = 0.070) G:F.

PSIV-6 Effect of dietary fiber source on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs

Abstract A total of 288 pigs (DNA 600 × 241; initially 50.7 kg) were used in an 86-d experiment to determine the effect of dietary fiber source on finishing pig performance. Thirty-six pens of 4 barrows and 4 gilts/pen (total 8 pigs/pen) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments. Treatments consisted of a corn-soybean meal control (8.7% neutral detergent fiber, NDF), 20% dried distillers grains (DDGS; 13.6% NDF) or 14.5% sugar beet pulp (SBP; 13.6% NDF). Experimental diets were fed from d 0 to 86 in 3 phases. Diets were balanced to constant NE and SID lysine within phase. Net energy values for ingredients were 2,672 kcal/kg, 2,343 kcal/kg, and 1,734 kcal/kg for corn, DDGS, and SBP, respectively. Overall, there was no evidence for treatment difference in ADG or ADFI. Pigs fed DDGS had a tendency for poorer G:F compared to pigs fed the control or 14.5% SBP diets (P &lt; 0.10). Caloric efficiency of net energy (NE) was poorer (P &lt; 0.10) in pigs fed DDGS compared to those fed control and SBP. There was a tendency for decreased (P &lt; 0.07) hot carcass weight and decreased (P &lt; 0.05) carcass yield in pigs fed DDGS and SBP compared to those fed the control diet. Loin depth tended to decrease (P &lt; 0.10) in pigs fed SBP compared to the control with pigs fed DDGS being intermediate. Therefore, pigs fed DDGS tended to have poorer feed efficiency compared to those fed the control diet or SBP. This can be explained by the overestimation of NE demonstrated by an increase in caloric efficiency. Increasing dietary NDF reduced carcass yield. http://www.conferenceharvester.com/

PSVI-23 Feeding enzymatically digested food waste altered fecal microbiota of growing-finishing pigs

Abstract Enzymatic digestion converted food waste from supermarkets into pasteurized liquid pig feed. This study was conducted to observe the fecal microbiota of growing-finishing pigs fed with enzymatically digested food waste. Fifty-six crossbred pigs (approximately 32.99 kg BW) were randomly assigned to one of the 2 dietary treatments with 7 replication pens and 4 pigs per pen. A 3-phase feeding program was used with d 0 to 28 as Phase 1, d 28 to 53 as Phase 2, and d 53 to 79 as Phase 3. The 2 dietary treatments were: a corn-soybean meal control diet, and a liquid diet produced from enzymatically digested food waste. Pigs were fed control or liquid diet in phases 1 and 2, while all pigs were fed with control diet in phase 3. Fecal samples were collected on d 0, 28, 53, and 79 from the same pig per pen and fecal microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing at the V4 hypervariable region and compositional data were analyzed using QIIME2 (2016.6). Observed species and Shannon diversity indexes were similar in both treatment groups on d 0, but pigs fed with food waste had greater (P &lt; 0.05) Shannon diversity than control pigs on d 28, 53, and 79. Feeding food waste tended (P &lt; 0.10) to decrease the relative abundance of Firmicutes compared with pigs fed control diet. Within this phylum, the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae was increased (P &lt; 0.05) and the abundance of Streptococcaceae and Clostridiaceae was decreased (P &lt; 0.05). The analysis of Bray Curtis PCoA displayed a separate cluster between food waste and control groups on d 28 and 53. In summary, these results demonstrated that feeding enzymatic digested food waste modified the gut microbiome community of growing-finishing pigs.

Comparative efficacy of antibiotic growth promoter and benzoic acid on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and indices of gut health in nursery pigs fed corn–soybean meal diet

Benzoic acid (BA) supplement was evaluated as an alternative to antimicrobial growth promoter (AGP). Ninety-six piglets (21-d-old at weaning) were placed in pens (four piglets pen−1) based on body weight (BW) and allocated (n = 8) to either control corn–soybean meal diet or control + in-feed antibiotic (AGP, 220 mg chlortetracycline hydrochloride and 31.2 mg tiamulin kg−1) or control + 0.5% BA. Feed intake and BW were measured weekly. Fecal scores for incidence of diarrhea and fecal samples for apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of components were taken in week 2. One pig per pen was euthanized on day 14 for jejunal histomorphology and digesta for pH and short-chain fatty acids concentration. In weeks 1–6, pigs fed AGP and BA had better (P &lt; 0.01) gain to feed ratio compared with control fed pigs. On day 12, pigs fed AGP and BA showed lower (P = 0.01) fecal score than control fed pigs. Pigs fed BA had (P &lt; 0.05) higher ATTD of crude protein and taller villi compared with the control or AGP fed pigs. Pigs fed AGP showed higher (P = 0.05) lactic acid concentrations than pigs fed BA, however, none differed (P &gt; 0.05) with control pigs. In conclusion, BA supported piglet growth performance to the same extent as AGP.

Fermented soybean meal exhibits probiotic properties when included in Japanese quail diet in replacement of soybean meal.

This study was conducted to investigate and compare the effect of dietary probiotic mixture (PM) and organic acid (OA) mixture with fermented soybean meal (FSBM) on performance, crop, and ceca microbiota, small intestine morphology, and serum lipid profile in Japanese quails. A total of 800 day-old Japanese quails was randomly allotted to 5 treatments with 8 replicate pens of 20 birds each, for 35 days. The experimental diets consisted of a control corn-soybean meal diet and 4 test diets: 1) control diet + 0.1% PM; 2) control diet + 0.2% OA mixture; 3) control diet + the combination of both PM and OA; and 4) an additives-free diet in which the soybean meal in the control diet was replaced with FSBM. The results indicated that in starter and the entire rearing periods, FSBM, PM, and PM+OA diets had significantly lower FCR compared to control or OA diets (P < 0.05). Birds in the FSBM group gained higher weight than control and OA birds (P < 0.05; 1 to 35 d). At d 21 and 35, birds fed the control diet showed significantly lower numbers of lactic acid bacteria in the crop, while coliforms were higher in the cecal content compared to the other diets (P < 0.05). At d 21, the villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum and jejunum of birds fed PM, PM+OA, and FSBM diets were greater than in other treatments (P < 0.05). The serum concentrations of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of birds fed PM, PM+OA, and FSBM diets were significantly lower than birds in control and AO groups (P < 0.05). The results obtained herein suggest that FSBM exhibits probiotic properties and, when used in substitution of SBM in Japanese quail diet, can improve growth performance, balance of desirable gastrointestinal microbiota in crop and ceca, small intestinal morphology, and serum lipid profile-likewise, a probiotic supplement.