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Swine diets are commonly formulated with available ingredients to optimize profitability through reduced cost or improved performance. However nowadays the fluctuant cost of feed ingredients may affect the inclusion percentages and the nature of the ingredients used to reach the optimum diet formulation. As ingredients are substituted, pig diet formulations often shift abruptly, even though nutrient specifications remain consistent. Non-nutritive characteristics of ingredients, such as palatability or odour, may affect feed intake and growth performance with changes in diet formulation. Sudden and frequent formulation changes may exacerbate the effects. Therefore the objectives of this trial were to determine the effects on finishing-pig performance of switching diet formulation extremes between a corn-soybean meal-based diet and a diet containing alternative ingredients.
A total of 1,239 finishing pigs (initially 19.5 kg) were used in a 41-d trial to determine the effects on ADG, ADFI, and F/G of switching every 2 wk from a corn-soybean meal based diet to a diet containing alternative ingredients. Pens of pigs were weighed and allotted randomly to 1 of 4 dietary treatments. Dietary treatments were: (1) feeding a corn-soybean meal-based diet; (2) feeding an alternative ingredient-based diet; (3) feeding both diets in succession by feeding 2 wk of the corn-soybean meal-based diet followed by 2 wk of the diet with alternative ingredients, then feeding the corn-soybean meal-based diet again for 2 wk (Switch 1); or (4) feeding both diets in succession by feeding 2 wk of the diet with alternative ingredients followed by 2 wk of the corn soybean meal-based diet, then feeding the diet with alternative ingredients again for 2wk (Switch 2). Nutrient specifications of the corn-soybean meal-based diet and alternative ingredient-based diet were similar within phase, and diets were fed in 2 phases (Phase 1: 4 wk, and Phase 2: 2 wk). Pigs were weighed and feed intake was recorded by pen on d 0, 13, 27, and 41 to determine ADG, ADFI, and F/G.
Although performance among pigs fed the different dietary treatments was variable throughout the testing periods, dietary treatment did not affect (P ≥ 0.07) overall ADG or ADFI. This resulted in pigs being of similar (P = 0.41) off-test weight, regardless of the diet (corn-soybean meal-based or alternative ingredient-based diets) or diet sequence (Switch 1 or Switch 2).
Therefore, in this study with diets formulated to similar nutrient specifications but having different ingredients, pigs had comparable performance regardless of whether a corn-soybean meal-based diet or an alternative ingredient-based diet was fed continuously or whether pigs were fed these same 2 diets alternated every 2 wk.
A total of 1,239 finishing pigs (initially 19.5 kg) were used in a 41-d trial to determine the effects on ADG, ADFI, and F/G of switching every 2 wk from a corn-soybean meal based diet to a diet containing alternative ingredients. Pens of pigs were weighed and allotted randomly to 1 of 4 dietary treatments. Dietary treatments were: (1) feeding a corn-soybean meal-based diet; (2) feeding an alternative ingredient-based diet; (3) feeding both diets in succession by feeding 2 wk of the corn-soybean meal-based diet followed by 2 wk of the diet with alternative ingredients, then feeding the corn-soybean meal-based diet again for 2 wk (Switch 1); or (4) feeding both diets in succession by feeding 2 wk of the diet with alternative ingredients followed by 2 wk of the corn soybean meal-based diet, then feeding the diet with alternative ingredients again for 2wk (Switch 2). Nutrient specifications of the corn-soybean meal-based diet and alternative ingredient-based diet were similar within phase, and diets were fed in 2 phases (Phase 1: 4 wk, and Phase 2: 2 wk). Pigs were weighed and feed intake was recorded by pen on d 0, 13, 27, and 41 to determine ADG, ADFI, and F/G.
Although performance among pigs fed the different dietary treatments was variable throughout the testing periods, dietary treatment did not affect (P ≥ 0.07) overall ADG or ADFI. This resulted in pigs being of similar (P = 0.41) off-test weight, regardless of the diet (corn-soybean meal-based or alternative ingredient-based diets) or diet sequence (Switch 1 or Switch 2).
Therefore, in this study with diets formulated to similar nutrient specifications but having different ingredients, pigs had comparable performance regardless of whether a corn-soybean meal-based diet or an alternative ingredient-based diet was fed continuously or whether pigs were fed these same 2 diets alternated every 2 wk.
ML Potter, SS Dritz, MD Tokach, JM DeRouchey, RD Goodband, and JL Nelssen, 2010. Swine day, Kansas State University, Report progress 1038: 227-231.
