Purified cellulose, soybean hulls and citrus pulp as a source of fiber for weaned piglets

Dietary fiber is an important component, which has a direct effect on intake, digestion, and absorption of nutrients; and also alters intestinal microbiota and morphology according to solubility. One digestibility trial and one performance experiment were performed to evaluate the effects of sources of fiber in diets for 21 day weaned piglets. The experimental diets used in both trials consisted of a control diet and diets with purified cellulose, soybean hulls or citrus pulp as a main source of dietary fiber. To evaluate the digestibility of nutrients (Assay 1), the total feces and urine collection method was used. The fiber sources did not affect nutrient digestibility, except for soluble fiber, which increased with the inclusion of citrus (Citrus sinensisL.) pulp. To evaluate performance, morphophysiology and microbiology of the digestive tract of weaned piglets, a total of 32 castrated male piglets was used. Slaughter of animals was implemented at 35 and 50 days of age. The use of soybean (Glycine max L.) hulls and citrus pulp in diets increased the number of goblet cells and the density of villi in the jejunum. The viscosities of stomach and cecum contents increased due to the addition of citrus pulp. Soybean hulls and the citrus pulp included in diets reduced the occurrence of E. coli in the small intestines of piglets slaughtered at 35 days of age. Among the fiber sources, purified cellulose in piglet diets promotes better performance of animals, due to the modulation of the small intestine microbiota, with lower E. coli occurrence resulting in higher villus density

Combined use of ionophore and virginiamycin for finishing Nellore steers fed high concentrate diets

Zebu cattle fed high concentrate diets may present inconsistent performance due to the occurrence of metabolic disorders, like acidosis. The isolated use of ionophores and virginiamycin in high grain diets can improve animal performance and reduce the incidence of such disorders, but recent studies suggested that their combination may have an additive effect. Thus, 72 Nellore steers, 389 ± 15 kg initial body weight (BW), were confined and fed for 79 days to evaluate the combination of virginiamycin and salinomycin on performance and carcass traits. Animals were allocated to a randomized complete block design by BW, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments, with two concentrate levels (73 and 91 %) and two virginiamycin levels (0 and 15 mg kg-1), and salinomycin (13 mg kg-1) included in all diets. The interaction was not significant (p > 0.05). Dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), gain-to-feed ratio (G:F), starch consumed, and fecal starch content were higher (p 0.05) between treatments. Starch consumed and estimated dietary net energy for maintenance (NEm) and gain (NEg) were higher (p < 0.05) for virginiamycin-treated animals, with no substantial effects on carcass traits. The inclusion of virginiamycin in finishing diets containing salinomycin reduced DMI while maintaining ADG and improving NEm and NEg, suggesting an additive effect of virginiamycin and ionophores, but without affecting carcass quality

Diferentes tipos de milheto utilizados na alimentação de suínos em crescimento e terminação Different types of pearl millets (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Brown) on growing - finishing pigs feeding

Um experimento de desempenho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a viabilidade nutricional e econômica da utilização de rações com diferentes tipos de milheto, com nível de inclusão de 60%, na alimentação de suínos, nas fases de crescimento e terminação. Foram utilizados 40 suínos híbridos na fase de crescimento (30,3&plusmn;2,9kg) e terminação (54,3&plusmn;4,1kg), distribuídos em um delineamento em blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos, quatro blocos e dois suínos por unidade experimental. Os tratamentos consistiram de uma ração à base de milho e farelo de soja e outras quatro com a inclusão de 60% de diferentes tipos de milheto (IAPAR, COMUM, BN2 e BN2S, sendo este com espigueta). Não foram observadas diferenças entre os tipos de milheto para consumo diário de ração, ganho diário de peso, conversão alimentar e características de carcaça. Os resultados sugerem que é viável a inclusão de 60% de milheto da linhagem IAPAR, da cultivar "COMUM", das variedades BN2 ou BN2S (com a espigueta), nas rações de suínos em crescimento e terminação.<br>A performance trial was carried out to evaluate the nutritional and economic feasibility of growing-finishing pig diets with 60% of different pearl millets. Forty crossbreed pigs were used during growing (initial weight 30.3&plusmn;2.9kg) and finishing (54.3&plusmn;4.1kg) phases. Pigs were allotted in a randomized blocks design with 5 treatments, 4 blocs and 2 pigs per experimental unit. The treatments consisted in a corn-soybean meal and other 4 diets containing 60% of inclusion of different types of pearl millet (IAPAR, COMUM, BN2 and BN2S. The last is pearl millet BN2 in spikelets). There was not difference for types of pearl millet on daily feed intake, daily weight gain, feed: gain ratio and carcass traits. The results suggested that it is possible to use 60% of IAPAR, COMUM, BN2 and BN2S pearl millet in growing-finishing pig diets