THE EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTING PIG STARTER DIETS WITH DRIED WHEY AND LYSINE AND EVALUATION OF PROBIOTIC EFFICACY IN STARTER, GROWER AND FINISHER DIETS
Abstract
Four trials were conducted to evaluate the performance of starter pigs fed an 18% crude protein fortified corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with synthetic L-lysine or spray dried whole whey. Three trials were conducted to study the efficacy of a probrotic. In the lysine and whey studies, the postweaning performance of four-week old pigs fed supplemental whey at 0, 15, or 30% and supplemental lysine at 0 or .25% was evaluated. The combined results of the four-week trials indicated that growth rate and feed efficiency were improved (P < .01) when diets were supplemented with .25% lysine. An increase in serum lysine (P < .06), asparagine and serine (P < .05) and a decrease in serum taurine, valine and isoleucine (P < .01) were observed with lysine supplementation. Pigs fed whey gained faster the first week after weaning compared to controls. Gains were similar for all pigs in the second week, but in the third week after weaning pigs fed 15% whey gained faster (P < .01). In the fourth week pigs fed the 30% whey gained slower (P < .01). Feed efficiency was improved only in the first week (P < .01) when whey was supplemented. Serum levels of asparagine, histidine, tyrosine and phenylalanine decreased (P < .05) and isoleucine increased (P < .05) as whey was added to the diet. No significant interactions between lysine and whey supplementation were observed (P > .10). In the first starter trial, the feeding of a commercially available Lactobacillus containing probiotic in a simple corn-soybean meal diet to four-week old weaned pigs had no effect on gain or feed intake. There was a trend for probiotic feeding to improve feed efficiency (P < .06). In a second starter trial, four-week old weaned pigs were fed either simple or complex diets with or without the probiotic. Pigs fed the complex diets gained faster than those fed the simple diets (P < .01). Most of the response was exhibited by pigs fed the complex diets containing probiotic suggesting an interaction between diet type and probiotic supplementation. In a third experiment, probiotic supplementation did not improve the performance of grower or finisher pigs.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Livestock
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