Sequential metabolizable energy plans for piglets from 7 to 30 kg

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate sequential metabolizable energy (ME) plans, maintaining the lysine: calorie ratio for piglets from 7 to 30 kg. Forty eight female piglets with initial weight of 6.9 ± 1.2 kg and final weight of 30.5 ± 3.8 kg were randomly allocated in a randomized complete blocks design to three nutritional plans with eight replicates and two animals per experimental unit. Sequential plans provided four ME levels: plan 1: 3,300-3,250-3,200-3,150 kcal ME kg-1, plan 2: 3,400-3,350-3,300-3,250 kcal ME kg-1, and plan 3: 3,500-3,450-3,400-3,350 kcal ME kg-1 of feed, from 7 to 10 kg, 10 to 15 kg, 15 to 20 kg and 20 to 30 kg, respectively. From 7 to 10 kg, there was no effect (P>0.05) of the nutritional plans in the evaluated variables. From 7 to 15 kg, a higher (P<0.05) energy intake and weight gain and a better (P < 0.05) feed conversion was observed in animals fed with nutritional plans 2 and 3. Nutritional plans 2 and 3 resulted in higher (P<0.05) final weight, feed intake, energy intake, digestible lysine intake, weight gain, and better feed conversion in the 7 to 20 kg, 7 to 25 kg and 7 to 30 kg. It is recommended the sequential plan containing 3,400-3,350-3,300-3,250 kcal ME kg-1 of feed from 7 to 10 kg, from 10 to 15 kg, 15 to 20 kg, and from 20 to 30 kg; respectively, equivalent to levels of 2,546-2,513-2,501-2,475 kcal net energy (NE) kg-1 of feed for piglets.

Nutritional plans of net energy with a constant calorie:nutrient ratio on the performance of piglets from 7 to 30 kg

“…On the other hand, it was reported that the use of a nutritional plan consisting of 3. 40, 3.35, 3.30, and 3.25 Mcal ME kg −1 for piglets from 7 to 10 kg, 10 to 15 kg, 15 to 20 kg, and 20 to 30 kg, respectively, increased ADFI, ADG, and FW, and also improved feed conversion when compared with nutritional plans with lower ME levels (Silva et al, 2020).…”

“…While older pigs have the ability to regulate feed intake according to their energy requirement (Noblet et al, 2001), there is evidence that weaned piglets do not have this control capacity yet, since studies have found that increasing the energy concentration of the diet can stimulate intake (Adebowale et al, 2019;Silva et al, 2020). There is also the hypothesis that for weaned piglets, due to their limited stomach capacity, the increased concentration of energy in the diet stimulates energy intake and increases weight gain (Oresanya et al, 2008).…”

“…Owing to the economic importance of the energy component in diet of pigs (Noblet, 2007), effects in performance, and carcass (Quiniou and Noblet, 2012), numerous studies have been carried out to find out the ideal level of energy that maximizes performance of pigs (Beaulieu et al, 2006;Oresanya et al, 2008;Arnaiz et al, 2009;Pereira et al, 2011;Vieira et al, 2015;Ribeiro et al, 2016;Marçal et al, 2018a;Marçal et al, 2018b;Marçal et al, 2019;Silva et al, 2020). One of the strategies that can be used to formulate feeding regimes of animals is based on the net energy (NE) amount.…”

Performance and behavior of piglets fed diets with different metabolizable energy levels

“…This means that increase in dietary energy levels reduce diet intake, but without any effect on BW gain (Vieira et al, 2015). Conversely, other studies in the literature have shown that increases in dietary ME intensify BW gain in weaned piglets (Quiniou & Noblet, 2012;Silva et al, 2020). Differences found in these studies, are likely related to variations in the composition of dietary ingredients and manipulation of nutrient densities.…”