Determining the Phosphorus Release for Natuphos E 5,000 G Phytase for Nursery Pigs

A total of 286 nursery pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 24.3 lb and d 42 of age) were used in a 21-d growth trial to determine the available P (aP) release curve for a novel phytase source (Natuphos E 5,000 G, BASF Corporation, Florham Park, NJ). Pigs were randomly allotted to pens at weaning. On d 0 of the experiment (d 18 after weaning), pens were allotted in a randomized complete block design to 1 of 8 treatments. There were 4 pigs per pen and 9 pens per treatment. Pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet formulated to 1.25% standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine. Ten 1-ton batches of basal feed (0.12% aP) were manufactured and subsequently divided to be the major portion of experimental diet manufacturing. Experimental diets were formulated to contain increasing aP supplied by either an inorganic source (0.12, 0.18, and 0.24% aP from monocalcium P) or from increased phytase (150, 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 FTU/ kg). Diets were analyzed for phytase using the AOAC method and actual analyzed concentrations were 263, 397, 618, 1,100, and 1,350 FTU/kg, respectively. On d 21 of the study, one pig per pen was euthanized and the right fibula was collected for bone ash and percentage bone ash calculations. From d 0 to 21, increasing P from inorganic P or increasing phytase resulted in improved (linear, P \u3c 0.01) ADG, F/G and ending BW. Bone ash weight and percentage bone ash increased (linear, P \u3c 0.01) with increasing inorganic P or phytase. When formulated phytase values and percentage bone ash are used as the response variables, aP release for up to 1,000 FTU/kg of Natuphos E 5,000 G phytase can be predicted by the equation: aP release = 0.000212 × FTU/kg phytase

Comparing the Effects of Butyric Acid Source and Level on Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs

A total of 398 pigs (PIC 19 × 1050 or PIC 3 × C29, initially 13.56 ± 0.02 lb) were used in a 42-d growth study to compare the effects of increasing two different sources of encapsulated butyric acid on growth performance of nursery pigs fed meal diets. Dietary treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial with main effects of butyric acid source (ButiPEARL vs. ButiPEARLZ; Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA) and level (low (1 or 1.38 lb/ton) vs. high (2 or 2.76 lb/ton) respectively) plus a control diet without any butyric acid. The inclusion rates of each product were established such that the same amount of butyric acid was contributed from each source for the low or high levels, respectively. Experimental diets were fed in three phases from d 0 to 7, 7 to 21, and 21 to 42. Pens of pigs (6 barrows and 4 gilts) were balanced by initial BW and randomly allotted to treatments, with 8 replications (pens) per treatment. From d 0 to 7, a source × level interaction (P \u3c 0.05) was observed for ADG, ADFI, and F/G, with pigs fed diets containing ButiPEARL having improved performance at the low inclusion, but with those fed high butyric acid not different from the control. However, pigs fed ButiPEARLZ had poorer growth performance at the low level, with the high level having performance similar to the control. In Phase 2 (d 7 to 21), ADG and ADFI were not influenced by butyric acid source or level, but an interaction (P = 0.001) was observed for F/G as pigs fed ButiPEARL had poorer F/G as level increased; whereas pigs fed increasing ButiPEARLZ had improved F/G. For Phase 3 (d 21 to 42), increasing either butyric acid source tended (P = 0.060) to decrease ADG. Overall (d 0 to 42), butyric acid source or level did not affect ADG, ADFI or F/G. In conclusion, this study showed that pigs fed low ButiPEARL in Phase 1 (d 0 to 7) had improved growth performance compared to other treatments with only minor treatment effects observed thereafter. More research is warranted to determine if the butyric acid sources used in this experiment would elicit different responses in pelleted nursery diets

Evaluating the Effect of Superdosing Natuphos E 5,000 G Phytase on Nursery Pig Performance

A total of 360 nursery pigs (DNA 200 × 400, initially 12.92 lb) were used in a 42-d growth trial to determine the effect of superdosing a novel phytase source (Natuphos E 5000 G, BASF Corporation, Florham Park, NJ). Pigs were randomly allotted to pens at weaning in a randomized complete block design to 1 of 8 dietary treatments. There were 5 pigs per pen and 9 pens per treatment. Diets were fed in 3 phases from d 0 to 7, 7 to 21, and 21 to 42. Dietary treatments were a negative control (NC) with 0.40, 0.30, or 0.25% aP from inorganic P for Phases 1, 2, and 3, respectively; and the NC with increasing phytase levels of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, or 4,000 phytase units (FTU)/kg. There was also a positive control (PC) with 0.55, 0.45, or 0.40% aP from inorganic P for Phases 1, 2, and 3, respectively, or the PC with 2,000 FTU/kg. On d 42, one pig per pen was euthanized and the right fibula was removed for bone ash analysis. From d 0 to 42, pigs fed increasing phytase in the negative control diet tended to have increased (quadratic, P = 0.064) ADG resulting in heavier (linear, P = 0.082) ending BW and improved (quadratic, P \u3c 0.01) F/G. Adding 2,000 FTU/kg phytase to the positive control diet did not influence ADG or ADFI, but tended to improve (linear, P = 0.068) F/G. The NC diet with 500 FTU/kg and PC diets were formulated to be equivalent in available Ca and P. When comparing the two diets, pigs fed the positive control diet had increased (linear, P = 0.007) ADFI; however, pigs fed the NC with 500 FTU/kg phytase diets had improved (linear, P = 0.034) F/G. Bone ash weights were increased (quadratic, P \u3c 0.001) for pigs fed increasing phytase in the NC diets. Additionally, percentage bone ash values increased as phytase increased in the NC (linear, P \u3c 0.001) and PC (P \u3c 0.001) diets. There was a tendency for the PC diet to have greater (P = 0.099) percentage bone ash when compared to the NC diet with 500 FTU/kg of phytase. In summary, this study shows that increasing dietary phytase increased percentage bone ash values, and a tendency for improved F/G as phytase was added to the positive control diet with P and Ca formulated at NRC (2012) recommendations. However, there was no further improvement in growth performance when phytase was included above 1,000 FTU/kg

Effects of Lysine on Performance of Lactating Primiparous Sows

A total of 111 primiparous sows (Line 241; DNA, Columbus, NE) were used in a 21-d study to determine the effect of lysine (Lys) intake during lactation on sow and litter performance and subsequent reproductive performance of primiparous sows. At d 110 of gestation, sows were weighed and randomly assigned to treatment based on weight block. Dietary treatments consisted of increasing levels of standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys (0.80, 0.95, 1.10, and 1.25% with other AA meeting or exceeding NRC [2012] recommendations as a ratio to Lys). All other nutrients met or exceeded the NRC (2012) estimates. During the lactation period, there were no differences in ADFI or sow BW at d 0 or weaning, resulting in no differences in BW loss. However, backfat loss during lactation decreased (linear, P = 0.046) as SID Lys increased. Regardless of treatment, there were no differences in litter weaning weight or litter gain from d 2 to weaning. In addition, no differences were observed for wean-to-estrus interval or the percentage of females bred by d 7 after weaning. However, d 30 conception rate increased (quadratic, P = 0.042) as Lys increased up to 0.95% SID Lys, but then decreased as SID Lys reached 1.25%.On the subsequent cycle, there was a tendency for decreased (quadratic, P = 0.054) percentage born alive as Lys increased to 0.95% SID; however, percentage born alive increased thereafter. Reciprocally, percentage of mummies tended to increase (quadratic, P = 0.090) with the greatest percentage mummies at 0.95% SID Lys. Overall, this study would suggest that in primiparous sows, there was no effect of increasing SID Lys above 0.80% on sow or litter performance. This study suggests that sow BF loss through lactation was decreased as SID Lys increased; however, little change on reproductive performance was observed. Additional research should be conducted with a larger group of sows housed under commercial conditions to confirm our findings

Effects of dietary zinc source and level on nursery pig performance

Citation: Jordan, K. E., Gourley, K. M., Tokach, M. D., Goodband, R. D., Dritz, S. S., DeRouchey, J. M., . . . Usry, J. L. (2016). Effects of dietary zinc source and level on nursery pig performance. Journal of Animal Science, 94, 139-139. doi:10.2527/msasas2016-297A total of 360 pigs (initially 5.9 ± 0.14 kg BW) were used in a 28-d study to evaluate the effects of dietary Zn source and level on weanling pig growth performance. Pigs were randomly allotted to pen at weaning by initial BW. The pen was assigned in a completely randomized design to 1 of 9 dietary treatments arranged in a 2 × 4 + 1 factorial. There were 8 pens per treatment and 5 pigs per pen. The corn-soybean meal based diets consisted of a control diet containing 110 ppm Zn from ZnSO4 from the trace mineral premix or the control diet with 390, 890, 1890, or 2890 ppm added Zn from either tetrabasic Zn chloride (TBZC; Intellibond Z; Micronutrients, Indianapolis, IN) or ZnO. This provided diets with a total of 500, 1000, 2000, or 3000 ppm added Zn. A 3 phase diet series was used with treatment diets fed during Phase 1 (d 0 to 7), Phase 2 (d 7 to 21) and Phase 3 (d 21 to 28). There were no Zn source × level interactions or Zn source differences observed for growth performance. From d 0 to 21, increasing Zn increased (linear; P ? 0.05) ADG and ADFI with no difference in G:F. From d 21 to 28, pigs fed increasing Zn had increased (linear; P = 0.018) ADFI resulting in decreased G:F (quadratic; P = 0.041). Overall, from d 0 to 28, increasing Zn increased (linear; P ? 0.05) ADG and ADFI without influencing G:F. On d 28, fecal samples were collected from 3 pigs in each pen and analyzed for DM content. There was a tendency (P = 0.081) for a Zn source × level interaction as increasing Zn from TBZC decreased fecal DM, whereas no difference in fecal DM was observed for increasing Zn from ZnO. In conclusion, increasing dietary Zn up to 3000 ppm increased ADG and ADFI but no differences existed between sources evaluated

Effects of amino acids and energy intake during late gestation of high-performing gilts and sows on litter and reproductive performance under commercial conditions

Citation: Goncalves, M. A. D., Gourley, K. M., Dritz, S. S., Tokach, M. D., Bello, N. M., DeRouchey, J. M., . . . Goodband, R. D. (2016). Effects of amino acids and energy intake during late gestation of high-performing gilts and sows on litter and reproductive performance under commercial conditions. Journal of Animal Science, 94(5), 1993-2003. doi:10.2527/jas.2015-0087The objective of this study was to determine the effects of AA and energy intake during late gestation on piglet birth weight and reproductive performance of high-performing (14.5 total born) gilts and sows housed under commercial conditions. At d 90 of gestation, a total of 1,102 females (PIC 1050) were housed in pens by parity group (gilts or sows) with approximately 63 gilts and 80 sows in each pen, blocked by BW within each pen, and each female was randomly assigned to dietary treatments within BW block. Dietary treatments consisted of combinations of 2 standardized ileal digestible (SID) AA intakes (10.7 or 20.0 g/d SID Lys and other AA met or exceeded the NRC [2012] recommendations) and 2 energy intakes (4.50 or 6.75 Mcal/d intake of NE) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models specified to recognize pen as the experimental unit for parity and the individual female as the experimental unit for dietary treatments. Results indicate an overall positive effect of high energy intake on BW gain during late gestation, although this effect was more manifest under conditions of high, as opposed to low, AA intake (interaction, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the magnitude of BW gain response to increased energy intake was greater (P < 0.001) for sows compared with gilts. Sows fed high energy intake had a reduced probability of piglets born alive (P < 0.004) compared with those fed low energy, but no evidence for differences was found in gilts. This can be explained by an increased probability (P = 0.002) of stillborns in sows fed high energy intake vs. sows fed low energy intake. There were no evidences for differences among dietary treatments in litter birth weight and individual piglet birth weight of total piglets born. However, individual born alive birth weight was approximately 30 +/- 8.2 g heavier (P = 0.011) for females fed high, as opposed to low, energy intake. Furthermore, piglets born alive were approximately 97 +/- 9.5 g heavier (P < 0.001) for sows than for gilts. Preweaning mortality was decreased (P = 0.034) for females fed high AA intake compared with females fed low AA intake regardless of energy level. In conclusion, 1) BW gain of gilts and sows depended not only on energy but also on AA intake, 2) sows fed increased amount of energy had an increased stillborn rate, and 3) increased energy intake during late gestation had a positive effect on individual piglet birth weight with no evidence for such an effect for AA intake

Effects of Amino Acid and Energy Intake During Late Gestation on Piglet Birth Weight and Reproductive Performance of Gilts and Sows Housed Under Commercial Conditions

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of amino acid (AA) and energy intake during late gestation on piglet birth weight and reproductive performance of high-performing gilts and sows housed under commercial conditions. At d 90 of gestation, a total of 1,102 females (PIC 1050) were housed in pens by parity group (P1 or P2+), blocked by weight within each pen, and each female was randomly assigned to dietary treatments within weight block. Dietary treatments consisted of combinations of 2 standardized ileal digestible (SID) AA (10.7 or 20.0 g SID Lys intake/d with other AA meeting or exceeding the NRC [2012] recommendations as a ratio to Lys) and 2 energy intakes (4.50 or 6.75 Mcal/d intake of NE) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models with parity group and dietary treatments as the linear predictor and random effects of pen as the experimental unit for parity and the individual female as the experimental unit for dietary treatments. With high energy intake, the magnitude of BW gain during late gestation was greater (AA × Energy, P \u3c 0.001) with increasing AA intake compared with increasing AA at low energy intake. Gilts gained more weight at low energy intake than sows (parity × energy, P \u3c 0.001); however, there was no evidence for differences (P = 0.601) in weight gain between gilts and sows at high energy intake. Sows fed high-energy intake had marginally reduced probability of piglets born alive (parity × energy, P = 0.092) compared with sows fed low energy, but no evidence for differences in gilts was observed. This was due to the increased probability (parity × energy, P = 0.014) of stillborns to be higher in sows fed high energy intake. There was no evidence for differences between the dietary treatments for litter birth weight and individual piglet birth weight of total piglets born. However, individual born-live birth weight was heavier (P =0.011) for females fed high-energy intake treatments compared to those with low energy intake. Born-alive piglets from sows were heavier (P \u3c 0.001) than those from gilts. There was a lower probability (P = 0.034) of pre-weaning mortality for females fed high AA intake compared to low AA intake, regardless of energy level. There was no evidence for differences between the dietary treatments on farrowing rate, number of total piglets born, and percent of piglets born alive in the subsequent cycle. In conclusion, 1) body weight gain of gilts and sows depends not only on energy but also AA intake, 2) sows fed an increased amount of energy had increased stillborn rates, 3) the positive effect of increased amount of feed during late gestation on individual piglet birth weight, 30 g per pig, was due to energy rather than AA intake

Effects of Soybean Meal Concentration in Lactating Sow Diets on Sow and Litter Performance

A total of 131 sows (Line 241; DNA, Columbus, NE) were used in a study to evaluate the effect of increasing soybean meal concentration in lactating sow diets on sow and litter performance. Sows were blocked by body weight (BW) and parity on d 112 of gestation, and allotted to 1 of 3 treatments of increasing soybean meal (25%, 30%, or 35% of total diet). Diets were formulated to 1.05% standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine with L-lysine HCl decreasing as soybean meal increased. All other amino acids and nutrients were formulated to meet nutrient requirement recommendations.2 Diets were fed from d 112 of gestation until weaning (d 20 ± 2). Litters were cross-fostered up to 48 h after farrowing to equalize litter size. Increasing soybean meal concentration increased (linear, P = 0.017) sow BW loss and tended to increase (quadratic, P = 0.052) sow backfat loss from farrowing to weaning. Sow average daily feed intake from d 0 to 7 was similar (P \u3e 0.10) across dietary treatments. However, from d 7 to 14, d 14 to weaning, and overall, average daily feed intake decreased (linear, P = 0.01) as soybean meal concentration increased. There was no evidence for difference (P \u3e 0.10) in wean to estrus interval, litter size, litter weight, or litter weight gain between dietary treatments. Sow serum urea nitrogen concentrations taken on d 14 of lactation increased (linear, P = 0.001) as soybean meal concentration increased. However, there was no difference (P \u3e 0.05) for sow creatinine concentration, regardless of dietary treatment, suggesting the increased urea nitrogen was a reflection of the increased dietary crude protein (CP) as opposed to increased protein catabolism. In summary, sow feed intake was decreased and weight loss increased with increasing soybean meal concentration from 25 to 35%, with no difference in litter performance observed

Effect of Lysine-Fermentation By-Product on Urine pH and Total Urine Bacteria Count in Lactating Sows

A total of 27 mixed parity sows (Line 241; DNA, Columbus, NE) were used in a lactation study to determine the effect of a lysine-fermentation by-product on sow urine pH and total urine bacteria counts. On d 110 of gestation, females were weighed, blocked by BW and parity, and allotted to 1 of 2 dietary treatments. Dietary treatments included a control (corn-soybean meal lactation diet) or the control diet that was acidified by the addition of 1.75% (as-fed basis) of a lysine-fermentation by-product. The dietary electrolyte balance (dEB) was calculated using the following equation (dEB ={[(Na/23) + (K/39.1)] – [(Cl/35.5) + (S/16)]} × 10,000). The calculated dEB was 95.9 and -23.7 mEg/kg for the control and acidified diets, respectively. Sows were fed the lysine-fermentation by-product diet from d 110 of gestation until d 10 of lactation, at which point they were switched to the control diet for the remainder of the lactation period. There was no evidence for difference in urine pH (P \u3e 0.05) between dietary treatments at d 110 of gestation; however, at farrowing and d 10 of lactation, there was a reduction (P = 0.001) in urine pH in sows fed the lysine-fermentation by-product compared to sows fed the control diet. By weaning (d 19) there was no evidence for differences in urine pH observed among the dietary treatments. There was no evidence for differences (P \u3e 0.05) in total bacteria count in urine between sows fed either dietary treatment on d 110 of gestation, farrowing, d 10 of lactation, or weaning. Overall, lowering dEB with the lysine-fermentation by-product resulted in decreased urine pH. Additional research should be conducted with a larger number of sows to determine the impact of lysine-fermentation by-product on indicators of sow farm productivity and profitability

Effect of the GaAsP shell on optical properties of self-catalyzed GaAs nanowires grown on silicon

We realize growth of self-catalyzed core-shell GaAs/GaAsP nanowires (NWs) on Si substrates using molecular-beam epitaxy. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of single GaAs/GaAsP NWs confirms their high crystal quality and shows domination of the zinc-blende phase. This is further confirmed in optics of single NWs, studied using cw and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL). A detailed comparison with uncapped GaAs NWs emphasizes the effect of the GaAsP capping in suppressing the non-radiative surface states: significant PL enhancement in the core-shell structures exceeding 2000 times at 10K is observed; in uncapped NWs PL is quenched at 60K whereas single core-shell GaAs/GaAsP NWs exhibit bright emission even at room temperature. From analysis of the PL temperature dependence in both types of NW we are able to determine the main carrier escape mechanisms leading to the PL quench