1319
The effects of Calibrin®-Z or a Calibrin-Z-based blended product on post-weaning performance of nursery pigs
One hundred and ninety-two pigs (BW=5.8 kg, 21 d old) were used in an experiment to evaluate the effects of two clay-mineral products on the post weaning performance of nursery pigs. The two products were a clay-mineral product, Calibrin-Z (Z), and a Calibrin-Z-based blended with a fermentable fiber and an organic acid (CBZ). There were four treatments: 1) Control (C); 2) C+Z at 0.2%; 3) C+CBZ at 0.1%; and 4) C+CBZ at 0.3%. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with weight and sex as blocking factors. There were four pens of gilts and four pens of barrows per treatment, with six pigs per pen. Pigs had ad libitum access to feed and water. The trial lasted 35 d, diets were corn and soybean meal-based complex nursery diets, all ingredients were commercially available so mycotoxins concentration would be those comonly found in commercial diets. There were decreasing amounts of whey, plasma, soy protein concentrate, fishmeal and lactose as the trial progressed. No differences (P>0.1) in ADG were seen during the experiment with values for ADG for d - 0 to 35 of 302 g for the C fed pigs vs. an average of 324.4 g for the pigs fed the two products. There was a significant improvement (P<0.05) in the G:F ratio from diet supplementation from the two products from d 21 to 28, but there was no difference (P>0.1) between products indicating that either product would increase feed efficiency. Furthermore, there was a linear (P<0.05) improvement in G:F from d 21 to 28 when pigs were fed increasing concentrations of CBZ. During the last 2 weeks, there was a tendency (P<0.10) for improved G:F with diet supplementation from the two products, again with no difference (P>0.1) between products, and a tendency (P<0.10) for linear improvement in G:F with addition of CBZ. For the overall period there was a tendency (P<0.10) for linear improvement in G:F from increasing concentration of CBZ and an improvement in G:F (P<0.05) from dietary supplementation from Z or CBZ, with overall G:F ratios of 653 g/kg for the C pigs vs. an average of 680 g/kg for the pigs fed the C or CBZ, with no difference (P>0.1) between the two products. Thus, supplementing the diet of nursery pigs with Calibrin-Z based products improved feed efficiency.
Keywords: Feed efficiency, nursery, pigs