Growth performance and nutrient digestibility of growing-finishing pigs under different energy concentrations

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of the difference in energy concentration in diets on performance and nutrient digestibility of growing-finishing pigs. The experimental diets were as follows: 1) a normal energy level corn-soybean meal-based diet (CON) and 2) high-energy diet compared with the CON (HE). Pigs had free access to their feed and water ad labium for 6 weeks during each experimental period. In experiment 1, 60 growing pigs (initial body weight [BW] of 23.85 kg) were randomly allotted to 2 treatment groups with 5 replications (6 pigs·pen-1). In experiment 2, 48 finishing pigs (initial BW = 65.13 kg) were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups with 6 replications (4 pigs·pen-1). The growth performance was measured at the beginning and end of each period. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) was determined by chromium oxide as an indigestible marker during the last 7 days of each experiment. In experiment 1, the dietary treatments did not affect the growth performance and ATTD of energy and nutrients. In experiment 2, no differences in growth performance were observed for pigs fed CON and HE throughout the experimental period. Additionally, dietary treatments did not affect the ATTD. In conclusion, the high energy content in diets for the growing-finishing period had no effect on the growth performance or digestibility, indicating that a wide range of energy content changes in diets would be required to affect the performance and digestibility of grower-finisher pigs. It is also necessary to understand the characteristics of components used to adjust the dietary energy concentration.