Role of emulsifier as fat replacer in low density diet for growing and finishing pigs

Abstract Text: Energy is a major cost component in diets for growing-finishing pigs. We hypothesized that the emulsifier may be used as fat replacer in low density diet because of its efficiency in increasing fat digestibility thus contributing in feed cost reduction. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of emulsifier, sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate in energy reduced diet on growth performance and meat quality of pigs. In Experiment 1, a total of 60 growing pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] (two gilts and two barrows/pen, five pens/treatment) at 63 days of age with an average body weight (BW) of 25 kg were used for 5-wk trial. In Experiment 2, a total of 84 finishing pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] at 112 days of age with an average body weight (BW) of 60 kg (two gilts and two barrows/pen; seven pens/treatment) were used for 8-wk trial. Pigs were randomly allotted to three treatments according to their body weight and sex. The following three treatments were used:  CON; basal diet, T1; basal diet minus 50 K cal ME diet and T2; T1 + 0.1 % emulsifier. All data were subjected to the GLM procedures of SAS and differences among treatments were separated by Tukey’s multiple range tests with a P < 0.05 indicating significance. In experiment 1, the addition of emulsifier in the energy reduced diet decreased (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake (1601 g vs 1616 g)) during days 15-35 compared to energy reduced diet without the emulsifier supplement. Emulsifier had no effect (P < 0.05) on other growth performance parameters in growing pigs. In experiment 2, supplementation of emulsifier in energy reduced diet did not have any influence (P < 0.05) on growth performances parameters and meat quality attributes compared to energy reduced diet without emulsifier though numerical differences were observed. However, the values for ADG (844g vs 842.6g), ADFI (2653.4g vs 2669.6 g) and G: F (0.318 vs 0.314), were comparable with basal diet. In conclusion, supplementation of emulsifier at 0.1% in energy reduced diet decreased ADFI in 5-wk trial and appeared to have comparable result as that of basal diet on growth performance in 8-wk trial.

Keywords: emulsifier, energy reduced diet, growing-finishing pig