A total of 60 crossbred pigs (Yorkshire × Duroc, initially 56.5 kg) were used in a 42-day trial to evaluate the effect of replacing a commercial high protein supplement with soybean meal and/or a base mix in rice bran-based diets on pig growth performance. Pigs were allotted to pens by body weight and pens were randomly assigned to dietary treatments in completely randomized design. There were 4 dietary treatments with 3 or 4 replicate pens per treatment and 4 pigs per pen. Dietary treatments were: 1) 80% rice bran with 20% high protein supplement (RBS20), 2) 95% rice bran with 5% high protein supplement (RBS5), 3) 97.5% rice bran with 2.5% base mix (RBB2.5), and 4) 92.5% rice bran with 5% soybean meal and 2.5% base mix (RBSBB). The base mix included vitamins, macro and trace minerals, L-Lysine, L-Threonine, and DL-Methionine. Overall (d 0 to 42) average daily gain was greater (P < 0.001) for pigs fed RBSBB and RBS20 diets than pigs fed the RBS5 or RBB2.5 diets. Pigs fed the RBS5 diet had reduced (P < 0.004) average daily feed intake compared to all other treatments. Similarly, feed efficiency (feed/gain) was improved (P < 0.004) for pigs fed RBSBB and RBS20 diets compared with pigs fed RBS5 or RBB2.5. For economics, income over feed cost was the greatest (P < 0.01) for the diet containing soybean meal and base mix compared to pigs fed the RBS20 diet, SBS5, and RBB2.5. In conclusion, feeding pigs a rice bran diet with base mix and soybean meal had similar growth performance and increased economic return compared to feeding a rice bran diet with high protein supplement. Use of soybean meal and base mix provides an opportunity for increased economic return for pig farmers.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rice bran quality and dietary supplement source on growing pig performance. A total of 60 castrated male pigs (Yorkshire × Duroc, initially 16.1 kg) were used for 52-day trial. Pigs were allotted to pens in a completely randomized design (4 pigs per pen) and assigned to four dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial with factors being rice bran source (high or low-quality) and source of protein, vitamins, and minerals (supplement or soybean meal and base mix). Analyzed protein and fat level for the high-and low-quality rice bran was 11.07% and 5.86% and 11.20% and 4.50%, respectively. Crude fiber content for high-and low-quality rice bran was 13.44% and 27.79%. Diets were formulated in two phases (phase 1: 16 to 27 and phase 2: 27 to 48 kg) to adjust to the pig's nutrient requirements. There was no evidence for an interaction (P > 0.05) between rice bran quality × supplement type or main effect of supplement type (soybean meal + base mix vs protein supplement) for final body weight, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency (F/G). However, pigs fed high-quality rice bran had improved (P < 0.001) ADG and F/G and lower ADFI compared to pigs fed low protein rice bran. In conclusion, rice bran quality as measured by protein, crude fiber, and fat influenced growing pig performance, while the type of dietary protein supplement did not. Additionally, rice bran with high protein, fat, and low fiber improved ADG and F/G.