Effects of mycotoxin binders and a liquid immunity enhancer on the growth performance of wean-to-finish pigs

A total of 1,120 pigs (PIC 337 × C22, initial BW = 16.0 lb) were used in a study to evaluate the effects of 2 commercial mycotoxin binders and a liquid immunity enhancer product on growth performance of wean-to-finish pigs. Pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments balanced by initial average BW within gender with 10 replicate pens per treatment. Treatments were: (1) control standard phase-fed diets based on corn and soybean meal with DDGS (20 to 35%) fed for 132 d, (2) a control diet with mycotoxin binders Biomannan fed from d 0 to 55 and T-BIND fed from d 0 to 132, (3) a control diet with Biomannan and T-BIND fed from d 0 to 132, and (4) Treatment 3 with a liquid immunity enhancer product administered through the water lines of pens continuously for 7 d every 3 wk. Both mycotoxin binders and the liquid immunity enhancer product were provided by Biotech Development Company, Inc. (Dexter, MO). The mycotoxin binder products were added in the diets at the expense of corn. Pigs from each pen were weighed as a group and feed disappearance was determined every 2 wk to determine ADG, ADFI, and F/G. Results of laboratory analysis showed that all mycotoxins tested in diet samples were below the practical quantitation limit. Overall, there were no treatment × sex interactions (P \u3e 0.50). As expected, gender differences were noted as barrows had greater (P \u3c 0.01) ADG and ADFI but poorer (P \u3c 0.05) F/G than gilts. The addition of mycotoxin binders and liquid immunity enhancer product did not affect growth performance (P \u3e 0.73) as all treatment groups had similar performance during the nursery (P \u3e 0.28) and growing-finishing stages (P \u3e 0.61). Under the conditions of the present study, the products tested had no effect on growth performance of wean-to-finish pigs.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 19, 200

Economic impact of removing pigs before marketing on the remaining pigs’ growth performance

The economic impact of removing the heaviest pigs (topping) before marketing a finishing group and the effect of topping on performance of the remaining pigs were determined in 2 studies. In Exp. 1, a total of 1,126 pigs (BW = 241 lb; 25 pigs/pen) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: topping 0, 2, or 4 pigs/pen 15 d before marketing the remaining pigs in the group. After topping, floor space per pig was 7.2, 7.8, and 8.6 ft2 for pens with 0, 2, and 4 pigs topped per pen, respectively. Overall (d 0 to 15), increasing the number of pigs topped per pen improved ADG (P \u3c 0.02), ADFI (linear; P \u3c 0.03), and F/G (quadratic; P \u3c 0.04). Revenues were similar (P \u3e 0.76) between treatments, but feed usage and cost was reduced (quadratic; P \u3c 0.01) as more pigs were topped per pen. However, there was no impact on income over feed cost (IOFC). In Exp. 2, a total of 1,084 pigs (BW = 234 lb; 27 pigs/pen) were assigned to 1 of 5 treatments. On d 0 (20 d before closeout), 2 pigs were topped from each pen excluding the control pens (0 top). Pens that were topped at d 0 had an additional 0, 2, 4, or 6 pigs per pen topped on d 10. Floor space per pig was 6.7 ft2 in control pens and 7.2 ft2 for the remaining pens from d 0 to 10. After topping on d 10, floor space per pig was 7.8, 8.6, and 9.5 ft2 for pens with 2, 4, or 6 more pigs topped, respectively. From d 10 to 20, the remaining pigs had increased (linear; P \u3c 0.01) ADFI, which led to a linear increase (P \u3c 0.01) in ADG. Overall, ADG and ADFI increased (linear; P \u3c 0.05) with increasing number of pigs topped, and F/G improved (P \u3c 0.01) in topped pens relative to intact pens. Weight discounts were highest in intact pens (P \u3c 0.02) compared to topped pens. Revenue decreased (P \u3c 0.05) as additional pigs were topped after d 10 in pens topped at d 0. Feed usage was highest (P \u3c 0.01) in intact pens. As more pigs were topped on d 10, IOFC tended to decrease (P = 0.07). Topping, regardless of number of pigs, did not affect (P \u3e 0.23) any of the carcass traits measured. Topping improves growth performance of the remaining pigs. Based on IOFC, topping 2 pigs once is the most optimal. Improvements in performance from topping more than 2 pigs were not great enough to overcome the reduction in total weight produced by the pen.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 19, 200

Effects of increasing hominy feed in diets on finishing pig performance

A total of 1,035 finishing pigs (initially 79.4 lb) were used in an 84-d growth trial to evaluate the effects of increasing hominy feed on finishing pig growth performance. Pens of pigs were blocked by average initial pig BW and randomly allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments (10 pens per treatment) with initial weights balanced across the treatment groups. Treatments were increasing levels (0%, 12.5%, 25%, and 37.5%) of corn hominy feed added to a corn-soybean meal-based diet. All treatment diets were fed in 4 phases, and hominy feed inclusion was constant among phases. Increasing hominy feed resulted in a linear decrease (P 0.35) in F/G. The lower feed consumption and poorer growth performance resulted in pigs fed diets containing any level of hominy feed weighing less than pigs fed standard corn-soybean meal-based diets at the end of the trial. These data indicate that adding corn hominy feed as an alternative ingredient in swine diets is a viable option; however, a decrease in performance should be considered when deciding if it is cost-effective to include hominy feed in finishing diets

Effects of increasing standardized ileal digestible lysine:calorie ratio on the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs

A total of 1,080 pigs (PIC TR4 × 1050) were used in four 28-d experiments to determine the lysine requirements of growing-finishing pigs reared in the new Kansas State University finishing barn. Low- and high-lysine corn-soybean meal-based diets with no added fat were formulated for each experiment by varying the amounts of corn, soybean meal, L-lysine HCl, DL-methionine, and L-threonine. Six lysine levels were evaluated in each experiment, with intermediate lysine levels obtained by blending the low- and high-lysine diets. There were 6 pens containing an equal number of barrows and gilts for each treatment, with 6 or 8 pigs per pen. Pens were blocked by initial count and BW. In Exp. 1, 252 pigs (initially 80.7 lb) were fed diets with standardized ileal digestible lysine:calorie (SID lys:cal) ratios of 2.09, 2.39, 2.69, 2.99, 3.29, or 3.59 g/Mcal ME. Increasing the SID lys:cal ratio improved (linear; P < 0.04) ADG and F/G. Optimum performance and income over feed cost (IOFC) was observed at 2.69 g SID lys/Mcal, or a dietary level of 1.01% total lysine and 0.90% SID lysine. In Exp. 2, 288 pigs (initially 122.9 lb) were fed diets with SID lys:cal ratios of 2.12, 2.35, 2.58, 2.81, 3.04, or 3.27 g/Mcal. Increasing the SID lys:cal ratio tended (quadratic; P < 0.12) to increase ADG and improved (linear; P < 0.02) F/G. Optimum performance and IOFC was observed at 2.35 g SID lys/Mcal, or a dietary level of 0.88% total and 0.78% SID lysine. In Exp. 3, 252 pigs (initially 177.2 lb) were fed diets with SID lys:cal ratios of 1.49, 1.79, 2.09, 2.39, 2.69, or 2.98 g/Mcal. Increasing the SID lys:cal ratio tended (linear; P < 0.06) to improve ADG and improved (linear; P < 0.001) F/G. Optimum performance and IOFC was observed at 2.09 g SID lys/Mcal, or a dietary level of 0.80% total and 0.70% SID lysine. In Exp. 4, 288 pigs (initially 224.3 lb) were fed the same SID lys:cal ratios as in Exp. 3. Increasing the SID lys:cal ratio decreased (linear; P < 0.04) ADFI, F/G, carcass yield, and IOFC. Despite a linear improvement in F/G, ADG did not improve above 1.79 g SID lys/Mcal, which resulted in the best IOFC. This requirement is equivalent to 0.69% total and 0.60% SID lysine. These experiments agree with previous recommendations for growing-finishing pigs of this genotype. For pigs weighing 80 to 143 lb, 123 to 190 lb, 177 to 235 lb, and 224 to 284 lb, growth performance and IOFC were optimal with SID lys:cal ratios of 2.69, 2.35, 2.09, and 1.79 g SID lys/Mcal ME (or 0.90%, 0.78%, 0.70% and 0.60% SID lysine) in corn-soybean meal diets without added fat