Effects of added Zn in diets with Ractopamine HCl on growth performance and carcass quality of finishing pigs in a commercial environment

The experiment was conducted in a commercial facility to determine the effects of added Zn on the performance of finishing pigs fed Ractopamine HCl (RAC; Paylean®; Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN). Pigs were randomly assigned to pens based on gender (14 barrow pens, 11 gilt pens, and 23 mixed-gender pens), with 25 to 28 pigs per pen. Previously, pens of pigs were assigned to treatments containing 0, 7.5, or 15% bakery by-product in a completely randomized design while balancing for initial BW and gender. On d 75, treatments were implemented to determine the effects of adding 50 ppm Zn from ZnO on finishing pig performance. A total of 1,234 pigs (PIC 337 × 1050; average BW 224.6 lb) were used in a 28-d study. Pens of pigs were randomly assigned to diets with and without 50 ppm added Zn from zinc oxide (ZnO) and balanced by BW, bakery by-product, and gender. All diets contained 5 ppm RAC and 83 ppm Zn from ZnO provided by the trace mineral premix. There were 24 pens per treatment. Overall (d 75 to 102), no differences (P > 0.22) in growth performance or carcass characteristics were observed when pigs were fed diets with 50 ppm added Zn compared with the RAC control. For pigs subsampled on d 84, pigs fed diets with 50 ppm added Zn had decreased (P < 0.05) edge belly thickness compared with pigs fed the control. For pigs subsampled on d 102, pigs fed diets with 50 ppm added Zn had decreased (P < 0.02) backfat thickness, belly weight, and edge belly thickness; a tendency for decreased (P < 0.07) middle belly thickness; and increased (P < 0.01) percentage lean compared with pigs fed the RAC control. In contrast with our previous research, these data indicate that adding 50 ppm Zn from ZnO to finishing pig diets containing RAC did not improve overall performance. Consistent with the earlier research, income over feed cost (IOFC) was numerically increased with the addition of Zn

The effects of medium-oil dried distillers grains with solubles on growth performance and carcass traits in finishing pigs

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of increasing medium-oil dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS; 7.4% fat, 28.1% CP, 10.8% ADF, and 25.6% NDF) on growth performance and carcass traits in finishing pigs. A total of 288 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 151.8 lb) were allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments. Treatments consisted of a corn-soybean meal control diet or the control diet with 15, 30, or 45% medium-oil DDGS, with 8 pigs per pen and 8 replications per treatment. Increasing medium-oil DDGS decreased (linear, P < 0.01) ADG and worsened (linear, P < 0.02) F/G. In addition, final BW, HCW, carcass yield, and loin-eye depth decreased (linear, P < 0.03), and jowl iodine value (IV) increased (linear, P < 0.001) with increasing medium-oil DDGS. When pigs are fed traditional DDGS containing >10.5% fat, each 10% DDGS added to the diet increases jowl IV approximately 2 mg/g; however, feeding increasing medium-oil DDGS increased jowl IV only about 1.4 units per each 10% DDGS. In conclusion, swine producers must be aware of the negative ramifications on growth performance of using medium-oil DDGS in swine diets

The interactive effects of high-fiber diets and Ractopamine HCl on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, carcass fat quality, and intestinal weights

In previous research, feeding pigs high amounts of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) and wheat middlings (midds) has been shown to reduce carcass yield and negatively affect iodine value (IV). The influence of Ractopamine HCl (RAC; Paylean, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) on this response is not known; therefore, a total of 575 finishing pigs (PIC 327 × 1050, initially 123 lb) were used in two consecutive 73-d trials to determine the effects of DDGS and midds (high fiber) withdrawal 24 d before harvest in diets with or without RAC on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and fat quality. From d 0 to 49, pigs were allotted to 1 of 2 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design based on initial pen weight. The dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal–based control diet or diets with 30% DDGS and 19% wheat midds. Twelve pens of pigs were fed the corn-soybean meal control diet, and 24 pens were fed the high-fiber diet. During this 49 d period, pigs fed the corn-soybean meal diets had improved (P < 0.0001) ADG and F/G compared with those fed the high-fiber diets. On d 49, pens of pigs were re-allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments; pigs remained on the corn-soybean meal diets, switched from the high-fiber diet to corn-soybean meal (withdrawal diet), or were maintained on the high-fiber diet. These 3 regimens were fed with or without 9 g/ton RAC

Effect of B-vitamin supplementation on nursery pig growth performance

A 35-d growth assay was conducted to determine the effect of added dietary B-vitamins on growth performance of nursery pigs (12.9 lb initial BW). The basal diet (Phase I, 1.5% lysine; Phase II, 1.3% lysine) was formulated to contain no added Bvitamins. The other treatment diets were formed by adding a B-vitamin premix (biotin, folacin, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamin, B6, and B12) to the basal diet with the vitamins added at 1, 2, or 4 times NRC (1998) recommendations. In phase I (d 0 to 14) and for the overall trial, pigs fed increasing Bvitamins had increased (linear, P<0.04) ADFI and improved (quadratic, P<0.04) feed efficiency. Feed efficiency was best for pigs fed the diet with B-vitamins added at the NRC requirement. There was no effect of B-vitamin level (P>0.09) on growth performance in phase II (d 14 to 35). These results suggest that B-vitamin supplementation is necessary to maximize growth performance of earlyweaned pigs; however, typical margins of safety for B-vitamins can be lowered without affecting growth performance

Effects of weaning age on pig performance in three-site production

Two trials (n = 5,728 weaned pigs) were conducted to determine the effects of weaning age (12 to 21.5 days) on pig performance in a three-site production system. The second trial also examined the effects of modifying nursery feed budgets according to weaning age. In both studies, wean-to-finish ADG, mortality rate, average pig gain per days postweaning, and pounds sold per pig weaned improved linearly as weaning age increased. The improvements in growth rate and mortality largely occurred in the initial 42- days post-weaning, with some ongoing growth improvement to slaughter. Modifying nursery feed budgets did not affect wean-to-finish growth performance. These studies indicate increasing weaning age up to 21.5 days predictably improves grow-finish throughput within a three-site production system

Effects of a seaweed extract on weanling pig growth performance and immune function during an acute enteric disease challenge

A total of 95 pigs (initially 15 lb and 17 d of age) was used in a 28 d growth trial to determine the effects of Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract (ANOD) on weanling pig growth performance and immune function in response to enteric disease challenge with Salmonella typhimurium (ST). Experimental treatments were arranged in a 2 x 4 factorial with main effects of disease challenge (control vs. ST challenge) and dietary addition of ANOD (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% of diet). Results suggest little beneficial effect of dietary ANOD on growth performance or immune response in the presence or absence of ST challenge

Effect of initial sorting and amount of added fat on performance of growing-finishing pigs reared in a commercial facility

Swine research, 2005 is known as Swine day, 2005Two studies were conducted to determine whether the amount of dietary energy fed to pigs of different weight categories influenced growth performance, market weight, and economic return in a commercial grow-finish facility. In Experiment 1, a total of 1,032 pigs with initial weight of 67.7 lb were individually weighed, fitted with electronic ear tags, and sorted into ten, 5-lb weight categories. Pigs were then allotted to pens lighter and heavier then the barn mean or to pens remixed to create a normal distribution around the mean. To complete the 2 × 3 factorial, pigs were fed corn-soybean meal diets, with or without 6% choice white grease. For the overall trial, there were no fat × weight-category interactions (P>0.15). Pigs fed 6% added fat tended (P0.15) SD or CV of gain for the overall trial. For weight category, regardless of diet, heavy pigs grew faster (P<0.01, 1.83, 1.72, and 1.76 lb) than either the light or mixed pigs, respectively. In Experiment 2, 1,176 pigs with an initial weight of 77.4 lb were tagged and visually sorted into five weight categories. Pigs (28 per pen) were then allotted to pens lighter and heavier than the barn mean or remixed to create a normal distribution around the mean. To complete the 2 × 3 factorial, pigs were fed corn-soybean meal diets, with or without 6% choice white grease. For the overall trial, there were no fat × weight-category interactions (P>0.25). Pigs fed 6% added fat had greater (P0.61) in SD or CV for ADG during the overall study. For weight category, regardless of diet, heavy pigs grew faster (P<0.02, 1.96, 1.92, and 1.94 lb) than either the light or mixed pigs, respectively. Although no interactions existed for growth or carcass data, there was a fat × weight-category interaction (P<0.07) for the financial response of margin over feed cost (MOF). Heavy pigs in both studies had greater (P<0.01) MOF than either light or mixed pigs; when comparing 0 and 6% added fat within weight category, however, the increase in MOF was greater for light pigs fed added fat than for heavy pigs fed added fat. These studies indicate that adding 6% added fat does not increase variation within or across a population. Because adding fat to the diets of lightweight pigs improves their growth rate, dietary fat can be used selectively in the barn to increase the weight of the lightest 50% of the pigs

An evaluation of astaxanthin as a nutraceutical growth promoter in starter diets for weanling pigs

A nursery study was conducted at the KSU Swine Teaching and Research Farm to evaluate the effect of increasing dietary astaxanthin (0, 5, 10, and 25 ppm) on weanling pig performance. Astaxanthin is a carotenoid found in various plants, algae, and seafood that exhibits antioxidant and potential anti-inflammatory properties that may be beneficial during times of stress and reduced immunity, such as weaning. A total of 210 pigs (initially 12.6 lb) were used in the 28-d experiment. Pigs were blocked by weight and randomly allotted to one of five dietary treatments. Pigs were fed simple corn-soybean meal-dried, whey-based diets during Phase 1 (d 0 to 14); and corn-soybean meal diets in Phase 2 (d 14 to 28). Treatments consisted of a basal diet for each phase without added feed-grade antibiotic, or the basal diet with 5, 10, or 25 ppm added astaxanthin without added feed-grade antibiotic; or the basal diet with a feed-grade antibiotic (Neo-Terramycin with 140 g of neomycin and 140 g of oxytetracycline per ton). For the d 0 to 14 (Phase 1) period, ADG and F/G were improved (P<0.05) by including a feed-grade antibiotic in the diet. Average daily gain and F/G of pigs fed astaxanthin was not different than control pigs. Pigs fed a feed-grade antibiotic during Phase 1 were heavier (P<0.05) on d 14 than were pigs fed 0, 5, or 10 ppm astaxanthin. They also tended to be heavier (P<0.10) than pigs fed 25 ppm astaxanthin. For the overall Phase 2 period (d 14 to 28), pigs fed antibiotic had greater (P < 0.05) ADG than pigs fed 0, 5, and 25 ppm astaxanthin; the pigs fed 10 ppm astaxanthin had intermediate ADG. Pigs fed antibiotic had greater (P<0.05) ADFI than pigs fed all other treatments. Feed efficiency was improved (quadratic, P<0.07) as the level of astaxanthin increased to 10 ppm and then returned to control values at the 25 ppm level. Pigs fed antibiotic had poorer (P<0.05) F/G than pigs fed 0, 5, or 10 ppm astaxanthin, and pigs fed 25 ppm astaxanthin had poorer (P<0.05) F/G than pigs fed 10 ppm astaxanthin. Overall (d 0 to 28), ADG, ADFI, and average weight on d 28 were improved (P<0.05) by including a feed-grade antibiotic in the diet. Pigs fed 25 ppm astaxanthin or a feed-grade antibiotic had poorer (P<0.05 and P<0.10, respectively) F/G than pigs fed 10 ppm astaxanthin. In conclusion, the growth performance of pigs receiving 5, 10, or 25 ppm of astaxanthin in the Phase 1 and Phase 2 diets was not different than that of pigs fed the negative control diet. However, ADG and ADFI were improved by including a feed-grade antibiotic in the Phase 1 and Phase 2 diets

Dietary energy density and growing-finishing pig performance and profitability

A retrospective analysis of 25 studies (16 at university and 9 at field research facilities) was conducted to model the response in ADG and F/G to increasing dietary energy density and its effect on profitability. Average daily feed intake in the field studies was approximately 30% lower than in the university studies, and as pigs increase in weight in the university studies they transition to a non-energy dependent phase of growth at a lighter weight than those in the field studies. The percentage response in ADG per percent added fat in the university studies was greater for the first 2.5% added fat than for higher fat levels, indicating a diminishing return. However, the percentage response in ADG was similar for both the 2.5 and 5% added fat levels in the field studies, indicating a linear response to fat additions. As expected the F/G improvement was greater in the field compared to the university studies. A five-year price series was used to determine the impact of fat additions to cornsoybean meal-based diets on profitability. For lighter weight pigs (70 to 120 lb), the net return to added fat is almost always positive, with feed cost per unit of gain being increased and deceased 50% of the time. However, the net return to added fat for heavier weight pigs (230 to 265 lb) fluctuates, with feed cost per unit of gain being increased in most scenarios. Using high energy diets for lighter weight pigs is cost effective and increases profit the majority of the time. The optimal energy density for late finishing pig diets is more dependent on the economic conditions

Determining the accuracy of gestation feed drops

An experiment was conducted to determine the accuracy of three different gestation feed drops. Each drop was tested at three different angles (90, 75, 60°) from the feed line. Feed was collected and weighed at feeder settings of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 lb for the Econo- Drop and Accu-Drop feed dispensers. Samples were taken at 2, 4, 6, and 8 lb for the Ultra- Drop feed dispenser due to a smaller storage capacity for feed with this feed drop. There were five replications (five drops of each type) at each feed setting. There was a drop type by angle interaction (P<0.01) for the feed dispenser settings versus the actual pounds of feed dropped. At angles of 90 or 60 degrees, the Accu-Drop and the Ultra-Drop feed dispensers more (P<0.10) accurately dropped the correct amount of feed at the respective feeder settings. The amount of feed dropped at each dispenser setting was influenced more by angle to the feed line with the Econo-Drop than with the Accu-Drop or Ultra- Drop feed dispensers. This study demonstrated that the Accu-Drop and the Ultra-Drop feed dispensers are more accurate than the Econo-Drop feed dispenser. Therefore, producers should consider the additional feed cost over the lifetime of the feed drops and not rely solely on initial price