0
A total of 128 animals were used in two different trials. In the fist trial 64 animals were distributed into 8 pens of male pigs and randomly assigned to one of the two treatments that were offered as an unrestricted (UR) ration: T1; dry feed and T2; dry feed with water at feed-to-water ratio (w/w) of 1:3. In trial 2 32 males per treatments were used and within each pen of 8 pigs, two animals were randomly assigned to one of four treatments which were subsequently offered as restricted (R) rations: the four treatments were: T1 a standard dry pellet diet or the standard diet soaked in water at different feed-to-water ratios (w/w), T2; 1:1.5; T3; 1:3 and T4; 1:3 with the addition of lactic acid immediately prior to feeding to adjust the pH of feed at pH = 4. The acid was substituted for an equal volume of water to maintain the same dry matter concentration. Feeding three times daily was adopted in order to ensure a high daily feed intake with minimal refusals of feed. Pigs on trial 1 were weighed at the start and again at the end of the study, while those on the second trial were weighed at weekly intervals throughout the 6-week experimental period. ADFI and ADG were recorded to allow their FCR to be calculated. Additionally ultrasound measurements of backfat and muscle depth were recorded at the start and end of the study.
It was observed that liquid feeding improved average daily live weight gain (P<0.05) and lean tissue growth rate in the animals feed the 1:3 diets fed unrestricted compared with those feed with dry feed unrestricted, however, feed conversion ratio was not affected. Within the restricted groups, ADG was greater in all of the 1:3 diets, whereas feed intake and FCR was lower (P<0.001) in these groups when it was offered the restricted ration. The differences observed in body weight gain and ADG for the restricted feeding groups offered the 1:3 diets than those fed the dry pellet diet were markedly greater with lactic acid inclusion (P<0.05).
It is concluded that liquid feeding has beneficial influence on performance during the growth/finishing phase and this is further modulated by water-to-feed ratio. The addition of lactic acid on the liquid feed can improve pig performance beyond for liquid feeding alone.
D Hurst, L Clarke and IJ Lean (2008) Animal, 2 (9): 1297-1302.
