Dietary enzyme addition on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of pigs fed diets containing avocado oil cake silage.

Avocado oil cake (AOC) was mixed with dried grape pomace and sugarcane molasses and ensiled for 90 days. A total mixed ration containing 5% AOC silage was formulated and top dressed with Axtra® XB enzyme at 0, 2.5 and 5%. The experimental diets were fed to 24 (8 pigs/diet) Large White × Landrace (LW × LR) cross pigs (± 22-kg live weight). Growth performance data was recorded for 60 days, after which the pigs were adapted to chromic oxide mixed diet for 3 days, whereby faeces were collected for 5 days after to determine nutrient digestion. Following nutrient digestion, pigs were fasted for 12 h, weighed and slaughtered. Carcass samples were collected and analysed for meat quality. Dietary addition of enzyme increased (P < 0.05) dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility, but did not affected (P > 0.05) feed conversion ratio and average daily gain. Carcass characteristics were not affected (P > 0.05); however, small and large intestine weight and length were increased (P < 0.05) with enzyme inclusion in feed. Dietary treatments did not affect (P > 0.05) the colour and cooking quality of the meat. Enzyme addition was worth in the growth performance and nutrient digestion but did not affect the carcass characteristics and meat quality of pigs.

Voluntary feed intake and growth performance of slow-growing pigs fed on increasing levels of ensiled potato hash meal.

The objective of the study was to determine voluntary feed intake and growth performance of Windsnyer pigs fed on increasing levels of potato hash silage meal. Thirty-six growing Windsnyer pigs (19 kg ± 5.59) (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) were individually and randomly assigned to six experimental diets containing 0, 80, 160, 240, 320 and 400 g/kg DM of potato hash silage. Diets containing the potato hash silage were formulated using diet dilution method from 0 g/kg and 400 g/kg. Six pigs were fed on each diet ad libitum for 6 weeks. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), gain to feed (G/F) ratio, scaled feed intake (SFI) and scaled average daily gain (SADG) were measured weekly. Increasing levels of potato hash silage caused a decrease (P < 0.05) in ADG, G/F ratio and SADG. The ADFI interacted significantly (P < 0.05) with the inclusion level of potato hash silage and week of feeding. Pigs fed on 240 g/kg potato hash silage had greater ADFI in the second, third and fourth week of feeding. There was a quadratic increase (P < 0.05) in ADFI. There was a linear decrease (P < 0.05) in ADG and G/F ratio and SADG as the potato hash silage level increased. Using piecewise regression, potato hash silage can be included up to 240 g/kg DM in Windsnyer pigs without undermining growth performance.

Potential of Using Maize Cobs in Pig Diets - A Review.

The quest to broaden the narrow range of feed ingredients available to pig producers has prompted research on the use of low cost, unconventional feedstuffs, which are typically fibrous and abundant. Maize cobs, a by-product of a major cereal grown worldwide, have potential to be used as a pig feed ingredient. Presently, maize cobs are either dumped or burnt for fuel. The major challenge in using maize cobs in pig diets is their lignocellulosic nature (45% to 55% cellulose, 25% to 35% hemicellulose, and 20% to 30% lignin) which is resistant to pigs' digestive enzymes. The high fiber in maize cobs (930 g neutral detergent fiber/kg dry matter [DM]; 573 g acid detergent fiber/kg DM) increases rate of passage and sequestration of nutrients in the fiber reducing their digestion. However, grinding, heating and fermentation can modify the structure of the fibrous components in the maize cobs and improve their utilization. Pigs can also extract up to 25% of energy maintenance requirements from fermentation products. In addition, dietary fiber improves pig intestinal health by promoting the growth of lactic acid bacteria, which suppress proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the intestines. This paper reviews maize cob composition and the effect on digestibility of nutrients, intestinal microflora and growth performance and proposes the use of ensiling using exogenous enzymes to enhance utilization in diets of pigs.

Growth performance, blood metabolic responses, and carcass characteristics of grower and finisher South African Windsnyer-type indigenous and Large White×Landrace crossbred pigs fed diets containing ensiled corncobs.

A study was taken to evaluate growth performance, carcass characteristics, and blood metabolite concentrations when ensiled corncobs were included in indigenous and commercial pig diets. Fifty Large White× Landrace (LW×LR) crossbred pigs and 30 South African Windsnyer-type indigenous pigs (SAWIP) were evaluated. They were fed a control (CON), a low inclusion of ensiled corncob (LMC), and a high inclusion of ensiled corncob (HMC) diet in a completely randomized block design. The LW×LR crosses had greater (P<0.05) final weight, ADFI, DMI, ADG, and G:F ratios than the SAWIP at both the grower and finisher stages. The SAWIP consumed more feed per metabolic BW (BW0.75) than LW×LR crosses at the grower stage while LW×LR crosses consumed more than SAWIP at the finisher stage (P<0.05). The finishers' G:F ratio was greater (P<0.05) in the CON than in the HMC diet. The LW×LR growers and finishers had greater (P<0.05) warm carcass weight (WCW), cold carcass weight (CCW), carcass length, drip loss, pH at 24 h, eye muscle area, and lean percent than those of SAWIP growers and finishers. The LW×LR finishers on the CON diet had greater (P<0.05) WCW and CCW than those on the HMC and LMC diets. There were diet×breed interactions for dorsal fat thickness at first rib (DFT1), dorsal fat thickness at last lumbar vertebra (DFT3), backfat thickness (BFT), and hindquarter weight proportion (HQWP) in the growers. The LW×LR growers and finishers had greater values (P<0.05) of hindquarter length, hindquarter circumference, HQWP, and shoulder weight proportion than the SAWIP growers and finishers, respectively. The SAWIP growers and finishers had greater values (P<0.05) of DFT1, dorsal fat thickness at last rib, DFT3, and BFT than the LW×LR growers and finishers, respectively. There were breed×diet interactions (P<0.05) for alanine aminotransferase and amylase (AMYL). The LW×LR crosses had greater (P< 0.05) values of creatinine, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, and AMYL than the SAWIP. The breed of pig influenced most of the growth performance and carcass parameters more than the diet did. There was no clear link between the blood metabolite levels and the diets. Since the inclusion of ensiled corncobs in diets did not affect negatively the selected important commercial pork cuts in South Africa, this could imply that they have a greater role as a pig feed resource.