Effects of a high protein, whey protein concentrate and spray-dried animal plasma on growth performance of weanling pigs

A 35-d experiment was conducted to compare the effects of increasing spray-dried animal plasma and a high protein whey concentrate (73% CP) on starter pig performance. Spray-dried animal plasma and whey protein concentrate replaced dried skin1 milk on an equal lysine basis. Pigs fed increasing spray-dried animal plasma protein had increased ADG and ADFI from d 0 to 7 after weaning, but not for any other period in the study. Increasing whey protein concentrate had no effect on growth perforn1ance in relation to the pigs fed dried skim milk.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 20, 199

Evaluating the effects of floor space allowance and pig removal from a group on the growth of finishing pigs

Citation: Flohr, J. R., Woodworth, J. C., Tokach, M. D., Dritz, S. S., DeRouchey, J. M., Goodband, R. D., & Gourley, G. (2016). Evaluating the effects of floor space allowance and pig removal from a group on the growth of finishing pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 94, 7-8. doi:10.2527/msasas2016-016A total of 1092 finishing pigs (initially 36.3 ± 1.2 kg BW) were used in a 117-d study to evaluate the impact of initial floor space allowance and removal strategy on the growth of finishing pigs up to 140 kg. There were 4 experimental treatments with 14 pens per treatment. The first treatment stocked pigs at 0.91 m2 (15 pigs/pen) throughout the duration of the study. The other 3 treatments initially stocked pigs at 0.65 m2 (21 pigs/pen) and were subject to 1 of 3 removal strategies. The second treatment (2:2:2) removed the 2 heaviest pigs from pens on d 64, 76, and 95. Treatment 3 (2:4) removed the 2 heaviest pigs on d 76 and the 4 heaviest pigs on d 105. Treatment 4 (6) removed the heaviest 6 pigs on d 105. All pigs remaining in pens after removals were fed to d 117. Overall (d 0 to 117), pigs initially provided 0.91 m2 of floor space had increased (P < 0.05) ADG compared with pigs in pens on the 2:4 or 6 removal strategy. Pigs initially provided 0.91 m2 of floor space had increased (P < 0.05) ADFI compared with pigs initially provided 0.65 m2 of floor space. Feed efficiency was poorer for pigs initially provided 0.91 m2 of floor space compared with pigs on the 2:2:2 or 2:4 removal strategy. Total BW gain per pen was greater (P < 0.05) for pens initially stocked at 0.65 m2 compared with pens initially stocked at 0.91 m2. Feed usage per pen was less (P < 0.05) for pens initially stocked at 0.91 m2 compared with pens initially providing 0.65 m2 of floor space and on removal strategies. Feed usage per pen was less (P < 0.05) for pigs on the 2:2:2 removal strategy compared with pigs on the 2:4 or the 6 removal strategy. In conclusion, increasing the floor space allowance or the time points at which pigs are removed from the pen improved the growth of pigs remaining in the pen

Effects of dietary copper, zinc, and ractopamine hydrochloride on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria

Citation: Feldpausch, J. A., Amachawadi, R. G., Tokach, M. D., Scott, H. M., Nagaraja, T. G., Dritz, S. S., . . . DeRouchey, J. M. (2016). Effects of dietary copper, zinc, and ractopamine hydrochloride on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria. Journal of Animal Science, 94(8), 3278-3293. doi:10.2527/jas2016-0340A total of 480 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 48.7 ± 2.3 kg) were used to determine the interactive effects of supplemental Cu, Zn, and ractopamine HCl (RAC) on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with the main effects of added Cu (CuSO4; 0 vs. 125 mg/kg Cu), Zn (ZnO; 0 vs. 150 mg/kg Zn), and RAC (0 vs. 10 mg/kg during the last 28 d prior to marketing). All diets contained 11 mg/kg Cu and 73 mg/ kg Zn from the trace mineral premix. Pens of pigs were balanced and blocked on initial BW and then randomly allotted to 1 of the 4 mineral treatment diets. At 28 d prior to marketing, pens within each block and mineral treatment were randomly assigned to receive either 0 or 10 mg/kg RAC in addition to the mineral treatment. Adding either Cu or Zn alone did not improve ADG or ADFI yet resulted in numerical improvements in overall G:F and caloric efficiencies, but improvements were not additive (Cu × Zn, P = 0.057, P = 0.068, and P = 0.064 for G:F and caloric efficiency on a ME and NE basis, respectively). Ractopamine improved (P &lt; 0.001) overall ADG, G:F, and caloric efficiency, thereby increasing final BW by 3% with no change in ADFI. Ractopamine also increased (P &lt; 0.001) HCW, percentage carcass yield, G:F, loin depth, and percent fat-free lean and decreased (P = 0.014) backfat. Adding Zn or Cu alone to diets containing RAC numerically improved percent yield and HCW G:F, but this effect was absent when the Cu or Zn was added to the control diet or when Cu and Zn were fed in combination in RAC diets (Cu × Zn × RAC, P = 0.011 and P = 0.018 for yield and HCW G:F, respectively). Fecal samples were collected on d 0 and at the conclusion of the finishing period (d 90) for bacterial isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility determinations according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute minimal inhibitory concentrations breakpoints. Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli isolates displayed varying levels of resistance to certain antibiotics prior to initiation of treatments on d 0. Resistance to most antibiotics decreased (P &lt; 0.05) over time or was stable for those that had a low baseline percentage of resistance. Neither Zn nor RAC adversely affected antimicrobial resistance. However, extended feeding of 125 mg/kg Cu throughout the finishing period seems to decrease enterococcal susceptability to tetracycline, tylosin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin. © 2016 American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved

Effects of dietary Cu, Zn, and ractopamine-HCl on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria

Citation: Feldpausch, J. A., Amachawadi, R., Tokach, M. D., Scott, H. M., Dritz, S. S., Nagaraja, T. G., . . . DeRouchey, J. M. (2016). Effects of dietary Cu, Zn, and ractopamine-HCl on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria. Journal of Animal Science, 94, 73-74. doi:10.2527/msasas2016-157A total of 480 pigs (PIC 327 × 1050; initially 48.7 kg) were used to determine the interactive effects of supplemental Cu, Zn, and ractopamine HCl on finishing pig growth, carcass characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric bacteria. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of added copper (CuSO4; 0 vs. 125 ppm Cu), added zinc (ZnO; 0 vs. 150 ppm Zn) and ractopamine HCl (0 vs. 10 ppm during the last 28 d before marketing; Paylean®; Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN). All diets contained 11 ppm Cu and 73 ppm Zn from the trace mineral premix. Pens of pigs were balanced and blocked on initial BW then randomly allotted to 1 of the 4 mineral treatment diets. Twenty-eight d before marketing, pens within each block and mineral treatment were randomly assigned to receive either 0 or 10 ppm ractopamine in addition to the mineral treatment. Adding either Cu or Zn alone did not improve ADG or ADFI yet resulted in numerical improvements in overall G:F and caloric efficiencies but improvements were not additive (Cu × Zn, P = 0.057, 0.068 and 0.064 for G:F and caloric efficiency on a ME and NE basis, respectively). Ractopamine improved (P < 0.001) overall ADG, G:F, and caloric efficiency thereby increasing final BW by 3% with no change in ADFI. Ractopamine increased (P < 0.001) HCW, percent carcass yield, HCW G:F, loin depth, and percent fat-free lean and decreased (P = 0.014) backfat. An interaction existed whereby adding Zn or Cu alone to diets containing ractopamine numerically improved percent carcass yield and HCW G:F, but no improvement was observed when the Cu or Zn was added to the control diet or when Cu and Zn were fed in combination in the ractopamine diets (Cu × Zn × ractopamine, P = 0.011 and 0.018 for yield and HCW G:F, respectively). Fecal samples were collected on d 0 and at the conclusion of the finishing period (d 90) for bacterial isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility determinations according to minimal inhibitory concentration breakpoints. Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. isolates displayed varying levels of resistance to certain antibiotics before initiation of treatments on d 0. Resistance to most antibiotics decreased (P < 0.05) over time or was stable for those that had a low base-line percentage of resistance. Ractopamine and Zn did not adversely affect antimicrobial resistance but extended feeding of 125 ppm Cu throughout the finishing period appeared to antagonize any time-associated decrease in enterococcal resistance to tetracycline, tylosin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin

Effects of dietary zinc oxide and chlortetracycline on nursery pig growth performance

Swine Industry Day, 2014 is known as Swine Day, 2014A total of 240 weaned pigs (PIC 1050; initially 13.4 lb) were used in a 47-d study to compare the effects of added Zn from zinc oxide (ZnO), alone or in combination with a low or high dose of chlortetracycline (CTC), on nursery pig performance. Pigs were allotted to pens at weaning (d 0) and fed a common starter diet with no antimicrobial for 5 d before the start of the experiment. On d 5, pens of 5 pigs were allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with 8 replications per treatment. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with main effects of added ZnO (0 vs. 2,500 ppm of Zn) and CTC (0, 50, or 400 g/ton). Pigs were fed experimental diets from d 5 to 26 after weaning followed by a common corn-soybean meal–based diet without antimicrobial from d 26 to 47. Pigs on the 50 g/ton treatment received CTC continuously from d 5 to 26; however, to comply with FDA guidelines, CTC was removed on d 15 from the diets of pigs fed 400 g/ton CTC, then added again from d 16 to 26. All diets contained 110 ppm of Zn from ZnO in the trace mineral premix. No ZnO × CTC interactions were observed. Pigs fed added ZnO had increased (P = 0.001) ADG, ADFI, and ending BW during the treatment period but increased F/G (P = 0.03) from d 26 to 47 when a common diet was fed. Pigs fed CTC had increased (linear, P < 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and ending BW during the treatment period as well as a tendency (quadratic, P = 0.08) for improved F/G. Overall (d 5 to 47), pigs fed added ZnO had increased (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI. Overall, pigs fed CTC tended to have increased (linear, P = 0.06) ADG and ADFI, but F/G tended (quadratic, P = 0.07) to decrease then increase as CTC increased. In summary, when ZnO or CTC were added to the diets, increased ADG and ADFI were observed, but additional carryover benefits were not evident after these feed additives were removed from the diets. The benefits of added Zn from ZnO and CTC are additive and could be included together in diets to get the maximum benefit in growth performance of weaned pigs

Comparative effects of dietary copper, zinc, essential oils, and chlortetracycline on nursery pig growth performance

Swine Industry Day, 2014 is known as Swine Day, 2014A total of 350 weaned pigs (PIC 1050; initially 13.3 lb) were used in a 47-d study to compare the effects of feeding antibiotic alternatives (copper, zinc, and essential oils), alone or in combination, on nursery pig performance. Pigs were allotted to pens at weaning (d 0) and fed a common starter diet with no antimicrobial for 5 d before the start of the experiment. On d 5, pens of 5 pigs were allotted to 1 of 10 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with 7 replications per treatment. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 + 2 factorial with main effects of added copper sulfate (CuSO4; 0 vs. 125 ppm Cu), added zinc oxide (ZnO; none vs. 3,000 ppm Zn from d 5 to 12 and 2,000 ppm Zn from d 12 to 33), and Regano EX (0 vs. 45 g/ton essential oils blend; Ralco Animal Nutrition, Marshall, MN). The 2 additional treatments were growth-promoting and therapeutic levels of chlortetracycline (CTC at 50 or 400 g/ton). Pigs were fed experimental diets from d 5 to 33 followed by a common corn-soybean meal–based diet without any antimicrobial, essential oils, or pharmacological levels of Cu or Zn from d 33 to 47. To comply with FDA guidelines, CTC was removed on d 19 from the diet of pigs fed 400 g/ton CTC, then added again from d 20 to 33. All diets contained 16.5 ppm Cu and 165 ppm of Zn from the trace mineral premix. Essential oils had no effect on daily gain, but feeding CTC or pharmacological levels of Cu or Zn improved the growth rate of nursery pigs. Carryover effects from any of these dietary treatments on subsequent nursery growth performance were minimal. Although there were no improvements in feed efficiency due to Cu or Zn, the inclusion of an essential oils blend worsened feed and caloric efficiencies

Effects of L-Carnitine Supplemented Throughout all Grow-Finish Phases or Only in Late Finishing on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Pigs

A total of 1,833 mixed-sex growing-finishing pigs (PIC, 337 × 1050; initially 58.5 ± 1.62 lb) were used in a 112-d growth trial to determine the effects of adding L-Carnitine throughout the entire grow-finishing period or for just the last 28 d before marketing on growth performance and carcass characteristics. There were 26 replicate pens per treatment and 20 (group 1) or 27 (group 2) pigs per pen in a completely randomized design. There were three treatment diets: 1) control with no added L-Carnitine; 2) diets containing 50 ppm of L-Carnitine for the entire trial; and 3) control diet until d 84 and then a diet containing 50 ppm of L-Carnitine. On day 84, half of the control pens were randomly assigned to the diet containing 50 ppm of L-Carnitine. The experimental diets were corn-soybean meal-DDGS-based and were fed in 4 phases. From d 0 to 84, statistical analyses compared the 52 pens of pigs fed the control diets to the 26 pens of pigs that were fed diets with L-Carnitine. From d 85 until market, comparisons were made using all 3 treatments. In the first 28 d, pigs fed L-Carnitine had greater (P \u3c 0.002) BW, ADG, and ADFI and similar F/G (P = 0.459) as those fed the control diet. No evidence for differences (P \u3e 0.13) were observed in growth performance from d 29 to 56 and from d 57 to 84. From d 0 to 84, pigs fed L-Carnitine had a tendency (P = 0.052) for greater ADFI, but there was no evidence (P \u3e 0.14) of differences for ADG, F/G, removals, and mortalities. From d 85 to market and overall, there was no evidence of differences (P \u3e 0.22) for ADG, ADFI, F/G, or removals and mortalities. For carcass traits, no difference (P \u3e 0.54) in HCW, yield, backfat, lean, and loin depth were detected between treatments. In conclusion, added L-Carnitine improved performance in the early grow-finishing phase, but due to greater variation, this statistical difference did not last until market, resulting in the same overall performance. Feeding L-Carnitine only for the last 28 d also did not elicit growth and carcass improvements

Effects of Increasing Levels of Soybean Meal in Nursery Diets on Growth Performance and Fecal Characteristics of 22- to 60-lb Pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of increasing soybean meal (SBM) on late nursery pig performance. In Exp. 1, a total of 266 pigs (241 × 600 DNA; initially 22.2 ± 0.37 lb) were used in a 21-d trial with 14 replicate pens per treatment and 4 to 5 pigs per pen. Pens of pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments which were corn-based with SBM levels of 25.0, 28.9, 32.5, or 36.2%. In Exp. 2, a total of 340 pigs (241 × 600 DNA; initially 29.8 ± 0.40 lb) were used in a 21-d trial with 14 replicate pens per treatment and 4 to 5 pigs per pen. Pens of pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments which were corn-based with SBM levels of 25.0, 28.9, 32.5, or 36.2, or 40.0%. In both experiments, at weaning, pigs were distributed into pens based on body weight, gender, sow parity, and age. Before the start of the experimental period, pigs were fed a phase 1 followed by a phase 2 control diet. After 21 and 26 d for Exp. 1 and 2, respectively, pens of pigs were randomly allotted to treatments in a randomized complete block design with BW as the blocking factor. An addition of SBM replaced feed-grade amino acids (AAs) to form experimental diets and all diets were formulated to be nearly isocaloric with SBM NE considered to be 100% of corn NE. Dietary additions of feed-grade AA were adjusted to meet or exceed AA requirements in relation to Lys for Ile, Met, Cys, Thr, Trp, and Val. Diets were fed in meal form. In Exp. 1, increasing SBM from 25.0 to 36.2%, decreased ADG (linear, P = 0.012), ADFI (linear, P \u3c 0.001), and final BW (linear, P = 0.021) with the greatest change occurring when SBM increased from 28.9 to 32.5%. No evidence for difference was observed for F/G (P = 0.729). In Exp. 2, starting with a heavier initial weight, increasing SBM from 25.0 to 40.0%, decreased ADFI (linear, P = 0.017) with the greatest change occurring when SBM increased from 32.5 to 36.2%. However, no evidence for difference (P ≥ 0.198) was observed for ADG, final BW, and F/G. This study showed that when pigs were fed high levels of SBM starting from 22 lb in the nursery period, pig performance was negatively affected. However, delaying the use of elevated SBM levels until pigs reach 30 lb resulted in reduced feed intake without impacting growth or feed efficiency. Thus, feeding up to 28.9% SBM for nursery pigs starting at 22 lb does not compromise performance, and starting pigs on higher SBM diets when pigs are closer to 30 lb did not affect ADG or F/G

Effects of Increasing Soybean Meal Levels on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Pigs in Grower and Late-Finishing Phases

Four experiments were conducted to determine the effects of increasing soybean meal (SBM) on grower and late-finishing pig performance. In Exp. 1, a total of 615 pigs (initially 95.2 ± 1.51 lb) were used in a 28-d trial with 14 replicate pens per treatment and 8 to 10 pigs per pen. Pens of pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments which were corn-based with soybean meal levels of 19.1, 22.6, 26.3, 29.9, or 33.5%. In Exp. 2, a total of 615 pigs (initially 225.5 ± 3.42 lb) were used in a 30-d trial with 14 replicate pens per treatment and 8 to 10 pigs per pen. Pens of pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments which were corn-based with soybean meal levels of 11.2, 14.2, 17.2, 20.2, or 23.2%. In both experiments, treatments were assigned in a completely randomized design and soybean meal inclusion was increased, replacing feed grade amino acids to form the treatments. For Exp. 1, increasing SBM increased (linear, P = 0.038) ADG and improved (P \u3c 0.001) feed efficiency, with the greatest change from increasing SBM from 19.1 to 22.6%. For late-finishing pigs (Exp. 2), no differences (P \u3e 0.10) were observed for any growth performance or carcass criteria. Experiments conducted in a second series were conducted with the same basic procedures as Exp. 1 and 2, but all diets contained DDGS, and were conducted in a commercial facility. In Exp. 3, a total of 1,080 pigs (initially 86.1 ± 1.72 lb) were used in a 28-d trial with 10 replicate pens per treatment and 27 pigs per pen. Pens of pigs were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments which were corn-20% DDGS-based and soybean meal was added at 18.2, 23.5, 28.9, or 34.3%. For Exp. 4, a total of 1,080 pigs (initially 225.2 ± 2.50 lb) were used in a 33-d trial with 10 replicate pens per treatment and 27 pigs per pen. Pens of pigs were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments which were corn-10% DDGS-based with soybean meal levels of 9.5, 13.5, 17.5, or 21.5%. When DDGS was included in the diet, no differences (P \u3e 0.10) were observed for any growth performance criteria for early- or late-finishing pigs. In conclusion, increasing levels of SBM (up to 33.5% of the diet) in grower pig diets linearly improved ADG and feed efficiency in corn-soybean meal-based diets. However, when DDGS was included in the diet, pig performance was not affected when SBM ranged from 18.2 to 34.3%. For late-finishing pig diets, increasing the SBM from approximately 10 to 23% in diets with or without DDGS did not result in any changes in growth and carcass parameters. These results suggest that high levels of SBM in the diet (no feed-grade amino acids) are well tolerated and do not negatively affect pig growth

A Survey of Added Vitamins and Trace Minerals in Diets Utilized in the U.S. Swine Industry

From November 2021 to February 2022, 37 swine nutritionists representing 29 production systems and 8 nutrition supplier companies in the United States were surveyed about added vitamins and trace mineral concentrations in swine diets. Respondents were asked to provide vitamin and trace mineral inclusion rates, weight ranges associated with each dietary phase, and number of sows utilizing their nutritional recommendations. Survey participants represented 4.38 million sows, or 72% of the U.S. industry. Data were compiled into 3 nursery phases (weaning to 15 lb; 15 to 25 lb; and 25 to 50 lb), 3 finishing phases (50 to 120; 120 to 220; and 220 lb to market), gilt development, gestation, lactation, and boar diets. Within each dietary phase, the vitamins and trace minerals of interest included: vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12, choline, vitamin C, carnitine, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, selenium, zinc, cobalt, and chromium. Descriptive statistics used included: average, weighted average (determined by the total number of sows), median, minimum, maximum, 25th percentile (lowest quartile), and 75th percentile (highest quartile). In addition, all average vitamin and trace mineral concentrations within each phase of production were compared to the requirement estimates reported in the NRC. The results of this survey follow similar trends observed in a previous survey in 2016. Nutritionists generally supplemented vitamins and trace minerals well above the NRC (2012) requirements. However, greater variation among respondents was observed in all vitamins and trace minerals, particularly in the fat soluble vitamins. Also, the use of alternative sources of vitamin D (25-OH-D3), E (natural, d-alpha-tocopherol), and organic or chelated minerals like copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc is becoming more frequent. In addition, comparisons to the most recent NRC (2012) requirement estimates highlight the necessity of future research to better understand vitamin and trace mineral requirements in swine diets