An evaluation of peptone products and fish meal on nursery pig performance

A total of 360 nursery pigs (PIC C327 × 1050, initially 11.8 lb and 21 d of age) were used in a 35-d study to evaluate the effects of select menhaden fish meal (SMFM), PEP2+ (also known as Ferm O Tide), Peptone 50, and PEP-NS on nursery pig performance. PEP2+, Peptone 50, and PEP-NS are all porcine intestinal mucosa products, but differ based on the carriers with which they are co-dried. PEP2+ is co-dried with enzymatically processed vegetable proteins. Peptone 50 is co-dried with a vegetable protein, while PEP-NS uses by-products from corn wet-milling. Phase 1 diets were fed in pellet form from d 0 to 8. Phase 2 diets were fed in meal form from d 8 to 21. A common corn-soybean meal diet was fed from d 21 to 35. There were 6 dietary treatments: (1) a negative control diet containing 2.5% spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) in Phase 1 followed by no specialty protein sources in Phase 2; (2) a diet containing 5% SDAP in Phase 1 and 3% SMFM in Phase 2; (3) a blend of 5% SDAP and 3% SMFM during Phase 1 and 6% SMFM during Phase 2; (4) a blend of 5% SDAP and 3% PEP2+ during Phase 1 and 6% PEP2 during Phase 2; (5) a blend of 5% SDAP and 3% PEP 50 during Phase 1 and 6% PEP50 during Phase 2, and (6) a blend of 5% SDAP and 3% PEP-NS during Phase 1 and 6% PEP-NS during Phase 2. During Phase 1, there were no differences in F/G among pigs fed any of the dietary treatments. During Phase 2 (d 8 to 21), pigs fed 6% PEP2+ had greater (P < 0.05) ADG compared to those fed the negative control diet, 3% or 6% fish meal, with pigs fed PEP50 and PEP NS intermediate. Furthermore, pigs fed 6% PEP2+ had the greatest improvement (P < 0.02) in F/G compared to pigs fed all other experimental diets. Overall, pigs fed diets containing PEP2+ had increased (P < 0.03) ADG and ADFI compared to pigs fed the negative control diet. Pigs fed 3% PEP2+ during Phase 1 and 6% PEP2+ during Phase 2 had greater (P < 0.05) ADFI compared to those fed 3% SMFM during Phase 1 and 6% SMFM during Phase 2. In conclusion, PEP2+, Peptone 50, and PEP-NS can be used as specialty protein sources to replace select menhaden fish meal in Phase 2 nursery pig diets. In addition pigs fed PEP2+ had greater ADG than those fed fish meal

Efficacy of different commercial phytase sources and development of a phosphorus release curve

Two experiments used 184 pigs (PIC, 22.7 and 21.3 lb BW, respectively) to develop an available P (aP) release curve for commercial phytase products. In Exp. 1 and 2, pigs were fed a basal diet (0.06% aP) and 2 levels of added aP from inorganic P (monocalcium P) to develop a standard curve. In Exp. 1, 100, 175, 250, or 500 phytase units (FTU)/kg OptiPhos (Enzyvia LLC, Sheridan, IN) or 200, 350, 500 or 1,000 FTU/kg Phyzyme XP (Danisco Animal Nutrition, Marlborough, UK) was added to the basal diet. In Exp. 2, 250, 500, 750, or 1,000 FTU/kg OptiPhos; 500, 1,000, or 1,500 FTU/kg Phyzyme XP; or 1,850 or 3,700 phytase units (FYT)/kg Ronozyme P (DSM Nutritional Products, Basel, Switzerland), was added to the basal diet. Manufacturer-guaranteed phytase levels were used in diet formulation. Diets were analyzed for phytase using both the Phytex and AOAC methods. Pigs were blocked by sex and weight and allotted to individual pens with 8 pens per treatment. Pigs were euthanized on d 21, and fibulas were analyzed for bone ash. In Exp. 1, pigs fed increasing monocalcium P had improved (linear; P = 0.01) ADG, G/F, and percentage bone ash. Similarly, pigs fed increasing monocalcium P in Exp. 2 tended to have improved (quadratic; P = 0.09) ADG in addition to significantly improved (linear; P ≤ 0.001) G/F and percentage bone ash. In Exp. 1, pigs fed increasing OptiPhos had increased (linear; P ≤ 0.02) ADG, G/F, and percentage bone ash. Likewise, pigs fed increasing OptiPhos in Exp. 2 had improved (linear; P ≤ 0.001) ADG and G/F, as well as increased (quadratic; P ≤ 0.001) percentage bone ash. In Exp. 1, pigs fed increasing Phyzyme XP had increased (linear; P ≤ 0.04) ADG and G/F and tended to have improved (linear; P = 0.06) percentagebone ash. Pigs fed increasing Phyzyme XP in Exp. 2 had increased (quadratic; P ≤ 0.001) G/F and percentage bone ash. In Exp. 2, pigs fed increasing Ronozyme P had improved (linear; P ≤ 0.001) ADG in addition to increased (quadratic; P ≤ 0.03) G/F and percentage bone ash. When AOAC analyzed values and bone ash are used as the response variable, aP release for up to 1,000 FTU/kg of Escherichia coli-derived phytases (OptiPhos and Phyzyme XP) can be predicted by the equation (y = -0.000000125x2 + 0.000236245x + 0.015482000), where x is the phytase level in the diet

Factors affecting storage stability of various commercial phytase sources

A 360-d study was performed to evaluate the effects of environmental conditions on storage stability of exogenous phytases. Coated and uncoated products from 3 phytase sources (Ronozyme P, OptiPhos, and Phyzyme) were stored as pure forms, in a vitamin premix, or in a vitamin and trace mineral (VTM) premix. Pure products were stored at 0, 41, 73, and 99ºF (75% humidity). Premixes were stored at 73 and 99ºF. Sampling was performed on d 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 270, and 360. Sampling of the pure products stored at 0 and 41ºF was discontinued after d 120 due to mold growth in the 41ºF samples. Stability was measured as the residual phytase activity (% of initial) at each sampling point. For the stability of the pure forms, all interactive and main effects of phytase product, coating, time, and temperature of storage were significant (P < 0.01), except for time × coating interaction. When stored at 73ºF or less, pure phytases retained at least 91, 85, 78, and 71% of initial phytase activity at 30, 60, 90, and 120 d of storage, respectively. However, storing pure products at 99ºF reduced (P < 0.01) phytase stability, with OptiPhos retaining the most (P < 0.01) activity. Coating mitigated (P < 0.01) the negative effects of high storage temperature for Ronozyme and OptiPhos (from d 90 onward) but not for Phyzyme. For the stability of phytase in different forms of storage, all interactive and main effects of phytase product, form, coating, time, and temperature of storage were significant (P < 0.01). When stored at room temperature (73ºF), retained phytase activities for a majority of the phytase sources were more than 85, 73, and 60% of initial activity up to 180 d when stored as pure products, vitamin premixes, or VTM premixes, respectively. When stored at 99ºF, pure phytase products had greater (P < 0.01) retention of initial phytase activity than when phytases were mixed with the vitamin or VTM premixes. Coated phytases stored in any form had greater (P < 0.01) activity retention than the uncoated phytases at all sampling periods. In conclusion, storage stability of commercially available phytases is affected by duration of storage, temperature, product form, coating, and phytase source. Pure products held at 73ºF or less were the most stable. In premixes, longer storage time and higher temperature reduced phytase activity, but coating mitigated some of these negative effects

Evaluation of increasing select menhaden fish meal or peptone protein sources in nursery pig diets

A total of 350 nursery pigs (PIC 1050 × C327, initially 14.3 lb and 28 d of age) were used in a 24-d study to evaluate the effects of select menhaden fish meal (SMFM), PEP2 (also known as Ferm-O-Tide), and Peptone 50, on nursery pig performance. PEP2 and Peptone 50 are a combination of refined porcine intestinal mucosa that is co-dried with vegetable proteins. PEP2 contains an enzymatically processed vegetable protein, while Peptone 50 contains a complementary vegetable protein. There were 10 dietary treatments: a negative control containing no specialty protein, the negative control diet with 2, 4, or 6% SMFM, the negative control diet with 2, 4, or 6% PEP2, or the negative control diet with 2, 4, or 6% Peptone 50. A common pretest diet was fed in pellet form for the first 6 d postweaning. Experimental diets were fed in meal form from d 0 to 14 and a common diet was fed from d 14 to 24. From d 0 to 7, there were no differences among treatments for ADG. Pigs fed diets containing PEP2 had greater (P < 0.03) ADFI compared with pigs fed diets containing SMFM and Peptone 50. From d 7 to 14, increasing PEP2 or SMFM increased (quadratic; P < 0.04) ADG, but there were no differences between pigs fed the two protein sources. Also during this period, pigs fed increasing PEP2 had increased (P < 0.02) ADFI compared to pigs fed SMFM or Peptone 50. In addition, as PEP2 increased from 2 to 4% ADFI increased (quadratic; P < 0.01). In Phase 2, pigs previously fed Peptone 50 had decreased (P < 0.05) ADG compared to pigs previously fed diets containing SMFM. Overall, pigs fed PEP2 had greater (P < 0.02) ADFI compared to pigs fed Peptone 50. In addition, pigs fed PEP2 had improved (P < 0.03) F/G compared to pigs fed SMFM. Finally, increasing PEP2 improved (quadratic; P < 0.04) F/G, with the most improvement seen in pigs fed the 6% PEP2 diets. These results suggest that PEP2 or Peptone 50 are suitable replacements for SMFM

Effects of increasing PEP-NS on nursery pig performance

A total of 180 nursery pigs (PIC 1050, initially 14.2 lb and 28 d of age) were used in a 24-d study to evaluate the effects of increasing PEP-NS on nursery pig performance. PEP-NS is a combination of porcine intestinal mucosa and by-products of corn wetmilling. There were 5 pigs per pen and 6 pens per treatment. There were 6 dietary treatments: a negative control containing no specialty proteins, the negative control diet with 3, 6, 9, or 12% PEP-NS, or the negative control with 6% select menhaden fish meal (SMFM). The diet with 6% SMFM contained the same amount of soybean meal as the diet with 6% PEP-NS. A common pretest diet was fed in pellet form for the first 7 d post weaning. Experimental diets were fed in meal form from d 0 to 14, and a common diet was fed from d 14 to 24. From d 0 to 14, increasing PEP-NS increased (quadratic, P < 0.01) ADG, ADFI, and F/G, with the greatest response observed in pigs fed 9% PEP-NS. There were no differences (P > 0.10) between pigs fed 6% PEP-NS or 6% SMFM. When pigs were fed a common diet from d 14 to 24, there were no differences in performance between treatments. Overall, from d 0 to 24, pigs fed increasing PEP-NS had improved (quadratic; P < 0.01) ADG and F/G, with the greatest improvement seen as PEP-NS increased from 3 to 6%. These results suggest that feeding 6% to 9% PEP-NS in Phase 2 nursery pig diets is suitable replacement for 6% SMFM

Effects of Liquitein on weanling pigs administered a Porcine Circovirus Type 2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine strategy

A total of 180 nursery pigs (PIC 327 × 1050, initially 12.6 ± 0.22 lb, and 19 ± 2 d of age) were used in a 35-d study to determine the effects of Liquitein and a porcine circo- virus 2 (PCV2)/Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) vaccine regimen on the growth performance of weanling pigs. Liquitein (TechMix, LLC Stewart, MN) is a watersoluble source of plasma and energy provided in the drinking water immediately after weaning. Pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of Liquitein (with or without) and PCV2/M. hyo vaccine regimen (vaccinates or non-vaccinates) with 5 pigs per pen and 9 pens per treatment. At wean- ing, pigs in the vaccinate group were given a full dose (2 mL) of ResprisureOne (Pfizer Animal Health, New York, NY) and Circumvent (Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, Millsboro, DE). On d 21, pigs in the vaccinate group were administered a second full dose (2 mL) of Circumvent per label instructions. Liquitein was adminis- tered to the pigs via water medicators for the first 5 d after arrival to the nursery. No vaccine × Liquitein interactions occurred for ADG or F/G throughout the study. From d 0 to 5, non-vaccinated pigs had a tendency (P < 0.07) for increased ADG. From d 21 to 35, pigs previously administered Liquitein had greater ADFI (P = 0.05) than those not provided Liquitein; however, overall (d 0 to 35) Liquitein had no effects on growth performance. From d 0 to 35, vaccinated pigs had decreased (P < 0.01) ADG and ADFI compared with non-vaccinated pigs. In conclusion, administering Liquitein during the first 5 d in the nursery increased feed intake later in the nursery stage (d 21 to 35), but the response was not great enough to influence overall growth performance. Pigs administered the PCV2 and M. hyo vaccine regimen had decreased ADG and ADFI