Effect of liquid to feed ratio, steeping time, and enzyme supplementation on the performance of weaner pigs

Abstract

2Two experiments were conducted to examine the effect of liquid to feed ratio, steeping time 3 and enzyme supplementation on performance of weaner pigs. In Expt. 1, 40 male weaner 4 pigs (weaned at 27 days of age) were randomly allocated to four treatments, including a dry 5 fed control and three liquid diets of differing liquid: feed ratios (2:1, 3:1 and 4:1). Pigs were 6 fed individually. Body weight was measured weekly and feed intake measured daily. The 7 results confirmed the advantage of liquid feeding but indicated that liquid: feed ratio had very 8 little effect on performance of weaner pigs. While the digestible energy (DE) content of the 9 2:1, 3:1 diets was similar to the control diet, the DE content of the 4:1 diet was significantly 10 lower, possibly due to the removal of the insoluble marker (long chain hydrocarbon) by the 11 amount of water in the diet. 12 In Expt. 2, the effect of a xylanase and steeping time on pig performance was assessed in 13 a 2 × 2 factorial design (two steeping times, 1 h v. 15 h; enzyme addition, + v. -). Sixty male 14 weaner pigs (weaned at 27 days of age) were randomly allocated to four treatments and fed 15 individually for three weeks. Body weight was measured weekly and feed intake measured 16 daily. The experiment revealed that both steeping and enzyme addition increased feed intake 17 (P<0.01) and growth rate (P<0.05), suggesting that both techniques influence the non-starch 18 polysaccharide composition of the wheat based diet. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) tended to 19 be improved more by steeping than by enzyme addition (P=0.06). The results would suggest 20 that steeping improves FCR by allowing increased hydration of feed and subsequent 21 activation of the endogenous enzymes present naturally in grains. 23The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that the water : solid feed ratio would 24 affect nutrient availability to weaner pigs fed liquid diets. 26Additional keywords: Liquid feeding, growth rate, digestible energy, feed conversion ratio 27 1

The response of pigs to diets containing varying levels of cocoa placenta meal (CPM) supplemented with an exogenous enzyme complex

“…One major challenge apart from the presence of theobromine in cocoa by-products is the high crude fibre content or non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). Choct (2004) indicated that NSP are poorly digested by monogastric animals such as pigs because they do not produce enzymes that are capable of digesting these fibre components. According to Bedford (2000), exogenous enzymes can be used to address the problems of some anti-nutritional factors and high fibre levels that limit feed value, thereby leading to a more economic and efficient utilization of AIBP.…”

Fermented pig liquid feed: nutritional, safety and regulatory aspects

“…More studies in actual farm conditions are needed. Performance might be improved by the addition of exogenous enzymes such as xylanase or phytase, as reported by Choct et al. (2004b).…”

Water requirements of liquid-fed heavy pigs: Effect of water restriction on growth traits, animal welfare and meat and ham quality

“…A water-to-feed ratio of 3:1 or 3.5:1 improves growth and feed efficiency (Barber et al, 1991); a ratio of 4:1 might be necessary if salt rich feed are fed, e.g. whey (Mordenti and Scipioni, 1983), whereas at higher ratios ( 44:1) dry matter intake and ADG are depressed (Choct et al, 2004).…”