Effect of variety, growing region and growing season on digestible energy content of wheats grown in Western Australia for weaner pigs

An experiment was conducted to examine the digestible energy (DE) content for weanling pigs in a cohort of wheats grown in Western Australia, and to establish relationships between DE content and their chemical composition. The 3 5 3 5 2 factorial experiment examined the wheat variety (Arrino, Stiletto and Westonia), growing location (high, medium and low rainfall zone) and harvest year (1999 and 2000). Pigs (no. = 5 per diet) aged about 28 days were given a diet at a level of 0.05 5 live weight containing 900 g/kg of the wheat and an acid-insoluble ash marker for 10 days, with samples of faeces collected from each pig for the final 5 days. The average live weight of pigs was 6.6 (s.d. 0.77) kg. The DE content of wheats harvested in 1999 varied by up to 1.3 MJ/kg, while wheats harvested in 2000 varied by up to 1.8 MJ/kg. When the 2 years' data were combined, the DE content ranged from 12.5 to 14.4 MJ/kg. Both the variety and growing region significantly influenced (P 0.05) with the wheats harvested in 2000. In addition, the precipitation level (mm) during the growing season of wheats was strongly correlated (r = -0.821, P < 0.01) to the DE content of wheat in year 1999, but was not correlated in 2000. The results indicate that the genetic and environmental conditions during the growth of wheat have a significant impact on the utilization of plant energy in weaner pigs, and that greater attention needs to be paid to these influences in the assignment of energy values for wheats given to weaner pigs

Effect of variety, endosperm hardness, the 1B/1R translocation and enzyme addition on the nutritive value of wheat for growing pigs

It has been widely recognised that wheat chemical composition and nutritive value can vary as a result of genotypic differences, but there is a lack of information on wheat grown in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, there have been conflicting reports regarding the effect of endosperm hardness, the 1B/1R translocation and enzyme addition on the nutritive value of wheat for growing pigs. The effects of wheat variety, endosperm hardness, the presence of the 1B/1R translocation and enzyme addition were examined in four experiments involving a total of 326 Large White Landrace pigs. Performance traits of individually housed pigs were measured in Experiments 1, 3 and 4 and apparent in vivo digestibility coefficients were determined at the total tract and ileal level from post-valve-T-caecum cannulated pigs in Experiment 2. The results obtained for the analysis of the chemical composition of the eight varieties were mainly within reported limits. However, there was a wide range of crude protein concentrations (97.8 to 138.7g/kg dry matter) suggesting varietal differences. There was no effect of endosperm hardness or the 1B/1R translocation on chemical composition. In contrast to other research reports, there were no significant differences in pig performance as a result of either variety, endosperm hardness or the presence of the 1B/1R translocation. However, there were significant variety effects on apparent total-tract digestibility coefficients. Enzyme supplementation had no significant effect on pig performance, despite the fact that the basal diet did not have a high nutrient specification.The authors acknowledge the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland (DARD) and Danisco Animal Nutrition for the financial support which enabled this research to be undertaken. Appreciation is expressed to the staff from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute who assisted with this work

Relationship between the quantity and quality of carbohydrates and the digestible energy content of wheats for weaner pigs

The aim of this study was to establish correlations between the quantity and quality of carbohydrates and the digestible energy (DE) content of wheats fed to weaner pigs

Provision of straw as a foraging substrate reduces the development of excessive chain and bar manipulation in food restricted sows.

Pregnant sows fed at commercial levels remain highly food motivated for most of the day. The inability to express this behaviour appropriately may, under certain conditions, result in the development of abnormal oral activities such as stereotypic chain and bar manipulation. Ninety-six gilts, all between 1 and 3 weeks post service, were entered into a 2X2 factorial design comparing food level (low, 1.8 kg/23 MJ day(-1) (L); high, 3.2 kg/40 MJ day(-1) (H)) and the provision of a foraging substrate (S, straw; N, no straw). The gilts were loose housed in groups of six with individual stalls. A 70 cm chain loop was attached to the front of each stair. The sows were fed at 09:00 h, during which time S sows received straw (approximately 1.5 kg per sow). Behaviour was recorded over the first two parities, by time sampling for the 2 and 6 h after the start of feeding and over 24 h using video recordings. Activity levels were highest just after feeding, with L sows being more active than H sows (L vs. H, 79% vs. 49% for the second hour after the start of feeding, F-1,F-12 = 41.5, P <0.001). Most of the postprandial activity consisted of manipulating substrates. In LN sows, particularly in Parity 2, this behaviour was mainly directed towards chains and bars, resulting in levels three to four times higher than in other groups (26%, 7%, 4% and 4% for the second hour after feeding for LN, LS, HN and HS respectively; Tukey's HSD, P <0.05). LS sows directed their foraging behaviour mainly towards the straw. It is concluded that in food-restricted pregnant sows, abnormally high levels of chain and bar manipulation can be prevented by providing straw which apparently acts as a foraging substrate

Interactive effects of wheat phosphorus content and enzymes on mineral digestibility in weaner pigs

The hypotheses tested were 1) wheat P-content will influence mineral digestibility; 2) individual supplementation of xylanase and phytase will increase P and Ca digestibilities; and 3) simultaneous supplementation of xylanase plus phytase will have synergistic effects on P and Ca digestibilities in weanling pigs fed wheats that differ in their P content

Can a change in starch content following storage predict the change in digestible energy content of wheat fed to weaner pigs?

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between changes in the carbohydrate composition of these wheats associated with storage and their digestible energy (DE) content for weaner pigs

Variety, growing region and addition of exogenous xylanase influences digestible energy content of wheat fed to weaner pigs

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the variety, growing region and arabinoxylanase on the DE content of wheat for weaner pigs

Effects of dietary betaine supplementation on energy partitioning in pigs

The effect of dietary betaine supplementation on energy partitioning in growing pigs under energy-restricted dietary conditions was assessed. The effect of betaine on the adaptation in energy metabolism of pigs over time after a change in diet and housing also was studied. Six groups of 14 group-housed barrows were assigned to one of two experimental diets: control or betaine-supplemented (0 or 1.29 g/kg of feed). Diets were corn- and soybean meal-based and were formulated to be limiting in energy content but sufficient in amino acids. The experiment comprised a 3-wk adaptation and a 3-wk experimental period. At the start of the experimental period, initial BW was 46 kg, each group of pigs was housed in a climate-controlled respiration chamber, and all pigs were subjected to a change in diet. During the experimental period, diets were diluted with 10␘at hulls. Pigs were fed at 2.5 times the energy requirements for maintenance, and during the experimental period, heat production, energy, and nitrogen balances were measured weekly. Metabolizibility of energy did not differ (P > 0.10) between diets. Averaged over the experimental period, betaine reduced heat production (P < 0.05) and energy requirements for maintenance (P < 0.10) and consequently increased energy retention (P < 0.10). Moreover, the difference in heat production between diets increased with time (P < 0.05). Similarly, the effect of betaine on the energy requirements for maintenance changed with time (P < 0.05). Maintenance requirements were similar in wk 1 and were decreased by betaine supplementation by 5.5uring wk 3 (477 vs. 452 kJ/[kg(0.75) x d]). Results of this study show that dietary betaine supplementation affects energy partitioning by growing pigs. However, based on the observed time-related changes in energy partitioning, it was concluded that dietary betaine supplementation did not influence adaptation by pigs to a change in housing and diet

Effect of xylanase in diets containing pre-characterized wheat varieties on the performance of weaner pigs

In this study the two cultivars were compared in a performance trial using conventional wheat-based diets that were titrated with multiple levels of a xylanase-based product

The digestible energy value of wheat for pigs, with special reference to the post-weaned animal [Review]

Wheat used in pig diets has variable physical characteristics, such as bushel weight and contains variable quantities of nutrients and anti-nutritional factors due mainly to the genetic and environmental influences the crop encounters during growth. However, variations in physical and chemical characteristics are not generally considered when wheat is used in the formulation of pig diets. This review aims to illustrate the variation in wheat quality that occurs, with most focus on the digestible energy (DE) content since the major purpose of wheat in pig diets is as an energy supply, and to address factors influencing the variation of energy value, with special reference to weaner pigs. The factors discussed in this review include physical and chemical characteristics, variety, growing region, season, post-harvest storage, the use of supplemental enzymes, such as xylanase and phytase, age of pigs and processing of grains