PSIV-6 Effect of dietary fiber source on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs

Abstract A total of 288 pigs (DNA 600 × 241; initially 50.7 kg) were used in an 86-d experiment to determine the effect of dietary fiber source on finishing pig performance. Thirty-six pens of 4 barrows and 4 gilts/pen (total 8 pigs/pen) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments. Treatments consisted of a corn-soybean meal control (8.7% neutral detergent fiber, NDF), 20% dried distillers grains (DDGS; 13.6% NDF) or 14.5% sugar beet pulp (SBP; 13.6% NDF). Experimental diets were fed from d 0 to 86 in 3 phases. Diets were balanced to constant NE and SID lysine within phase. Net energy values for ingredients were 2,672 kcal/kg, 2,343 kcal/kg, and 1,734 kcal/kg for corn, DDGS, and SBP, respectively. Overall, there was no evidence for treatment difference in ADG or ADFI. Pigs fed DDGS had a tendency for poorer G:F compared to pigs fed the control or 14.5% SBP diets (P < 0.10). Caloric efficiency of net energy (NE) was poorer (P < 0.10) in pigs fed DDGS compared to those fed control and SBP. There was a tendency for decreased (P < 0.07) hot carcass weight and decreased (P < 0.05) carcass yield in pigs fed DDGS and SBP compared to those fed the control diet. Loin depth tended to decrease (P < 0.10) in pigs fed SBP compared to the control with pigs fed DDGS being intermediate. Therefore, pigs fed DDGS tended to have poorer feed efficiency compared to those fed the control diet or SBP. This can be explained by the overestimation of NE demonstrated by an increase in caloric efficiency. Increasing dietary NDF reduced carcass yield. http://www.conferenceharvester.com/