Two experiments were conducted to characterize the progression of deoxynivalenol (DON)-induced growth suppression and to investigate algae-modified montmorillonite clay (AMMC) as a means to alleviate the effects of DON in nursery pigs. In both experiments, naturally DON-contaminated wheat was used to produce diets with desired DON levels. In Exp. 1, 280 barrows and gilts (10.0 ± 0.2 kg BW) were used in a 28-d experiment arranged in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial design with 8 replicates per treatment. The 5 treatments consisted of 2 positive control (PC) diets with DON below detection limits and with or without 0 or 0.50% AMMC and 3 negative control (NC) diets with 5 mg/kg of DON and containing 0, 0.25, or 0.50% AMMC. No DON × AMMC interactions were observed. Overall, pigs fed DON had decreased (P < 0.001) ADG and final BW regardless of AMMC addition. Feeding DON-contaminated diets elicited the most severe depression (P < 0.001) in ADFI and G:F from d 0 to 3, remaining poorer overall (P < 0.01) but lessening in severity as exposure time increased. Pigs fed DON diets had greater (P < 0.05) within pen BW variation (CV) on d 28. Although the addition of 0.50% AMMC to diets restored (P < 0.05) ADFI from d 14 to 21 to levels similar to the PC, no other differences were observed for AMMC inclusion. In Exp. 2, 360 barrows (11.4 ± 0.2 kg BW) were used in a 21-d experiment with 9 dietary treatments arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial design with DON and AMMC inclusion as main effects. There were 8 replicate pens per treatment. Treatments consisted of 3 PC diets without DON, 3 low-DON (1.5 mg/kg DON) NC diets, and 3 high-DON (3 mg/kg DON) NC diets with 0, 0.17, or 0.50% AMMC incorporated at each DON level. No DON × AMMC interactions were observed. As DON level increased, ADG and final BW decreased (quadratic, P < 0.05), driven by decreased (quadratic, P < 0.01) ADFI and poorer (quadratic; P < 0.05) G:F. At both 1.5 and 3 mg/kg DON, reductions in ADG were most marked from d 0 to 7 (15 to 22% lower) and were least distinct from d 14 to 21 (5 to 6% lower). Incorporating AMMC at increasing levels had no effect on ADG, ADFI, G:F, or final BW. Overall, these experiments reinforce DON effects on feed intake but also indicate that the effects of DON on G:F may be more severe than previously thought. Furthermore, some pigs appear to develop tolerance to DON, as effects on ADFI and G:F lessen over time. However, the addition of AMMC did not offset the deleterious effects of DON.

Abstract. Maintaining quality pellets with a low percentage of fines is essential to achieve growth performance benefits from pelleting diets for swine and poultry. Therefore, we investigated the formation of fines during the pelleted feed manufacturing process, transportation, and feed line delivery at the farm. A second objective was to determine the chemical composition of the pellets and fines. Results indicated that pellet durability index (PDI) was increased from the pellet mill to the fat coater, but decreased between the fat coater and load-out. Correspondingly, percentage fines were similar from the pellet mill to the cooler, but then increased at the fat coater and at load-out. Dry matter, ether extract, and acid detergent fiber were greater in fines compared to pellets, whereas crude protein was decreased in fines. The percentage of fines formed during truck unloading was not influenced by unloading speed but tended to increase from the front to the rear compartment. There was no effect of feed line location (6, 35, and 76 m from the bin) on pellet PDI, percentage fines, or the nutrient profile of pellets or fines. Across locations, fines had decreased crude protein and phosphorus, but increased acid detergent fiber, crude fiber, calcium, ether extract, and starch compared to the composition of pellets. Understanding the steps in the feed manufacturing and delivery process may allow for alternative methods to reduce the formation of fines in pelleted feeds. Keywords: Feed line, Feed mill, Feed truck, Fines, Pellet durability index, Pellets.

Evaluating the effects of an algae-modified montmorillonite clay in diets Evaluating the effects of an algae-modified montmorillonite clay in diets contaminated With deoxynivalenol on nursery pig growth performance contaminated With deoxynivalenol on nursery pig growth performance

This study evaluated the effect of an algae-clay-complex-based feed additive (ACC, Olmix Group, Brehan, France) and diet formulation regimen on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. A total of 1,188 pigs (PIC 337×1050, initially 49.5 kg) were used in a 90-day study. There were 27 pigs per pen and 11 replications per treatment. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2×2 factorial with main effects of ACC (none or 0.10% until 100 kg body weight and 0.05% thereafter) and dietary formulation regimen (High vs Low). High diets were formulated to maximize growth with added fat and no dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). Low diets were formulated to contain approximately 150 kcal/kg less net energy (NE), 30% DDGS, no added fat, and were formulated 0.10% below the standardized ileal digestible (SID) lys requirement based on the SID Lys:NE ratio as estimated in the High diets. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. There were no ACC × formulation interactions (P &gt;0.220) for growth or carcass characteristics. Overall, ADG was greater (P=0.027) for pigs fed diets with ACC compared with those fed diets without ACC with no change in ADFI or G:F (P &gt;0.180). This was a result of late finishing (d 56 to 90) ADG and G:F increase (P&lt; 0.019) for pigs fed diets with ACC compared with those fed no ACC. Also, pigs fed High diets had improved (P&lt; 0.047) ADG, ADFI, G:F and final body weight compared to pigs fed Low diets. For carcass characteristics, pigs fed High diets tended to have greater (P=0.067) loin depth and had greater (P&lt; 0.001) carcass weight than pigs fed low diets with no evidence for differences between the control and pigs fed ACC (P &gt;0.05). The addition of ACC resulted in improved ADG and G:F in late finishing, but did not affect carcass characteristics.

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