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Evaluating the effects of sodium sesquicarbonate in the grow-finish phase fed during summer months
A total of 1,177 pigs (14.30 ± 0.97 kg) in a commercial wean to finish facility were used to evaluate sodium sesquicarbonate (SSQ) (S-Carb®; Tronox Specialty Alkali Corporation, Green River, WY) and its effects on dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) and growth performance. SSQ was added to corn/soybean meal/dried distiller’s grains with solubles diets at 0, 0.15, 0.30 and 0.40% to alter DEB values to 0, <150, 225-275, and >350 DEB, respectively. Pigs were housed in groups of 24-25 for a total of 12 replications from May-October 2015 in Illinois. Diets were changed at 11.4-22.7, 22.7-45.5, 45.5-68.2, 68.2-90.9, 90.9-113.6, and 113.6-129.5 kg BW. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design, with pen as the experimental unit and treatment as a fixed effect, as well as linear and quadratic contrasts for increasing DEB. During the study, 24 hour barn temperatures ranged from 33.9-23.8¢ªC to 24.4-20¢ªC. During the initial phase, G:F tended to quadratically decrease (0.63, 0.62, 0.62, 0.64; P = 0.08) as DEB increased and ADFI tended to increase at 0.30% SSQ compared to the control (0.63, 0.62, 0.64, 0.64 kg/d; P = 0.09). In period 2, ADG (0.85, 0.86, 0.88, 0.87; P < 0.01), G:F (0.51, 0.52, 0.53, 0.53; P < 0.01), and BW (44.89, 44.89, 45.53, 45.42 kg; P < 0.01) increased as DEB increased. During period 3, the control pigs had increased ADG (0.95, 0.91, 0.92, 0.91 kg/d; P < 0.01), G:F (0.42, 0.41, 0.41, 0.42; P < 0.01) and a tendency for increased ADFI (2.26, 2.23, 2.22, 2.18 kg/d; P < 0.10) compared to pigs that were fed SSQ. There were no significant differences detected in growth performance during period 4. In period 5, there was a quadratic response (0.97, 1.00, 0.98, 0.95 kg/d; P < 0.03) for ADG to decrease as DEB level increased, as well as, a quadratic tendency (0.34, 0.35, 0.35, 0.34; P < 0.10) for an increased G:F as DEB level increased. During the market phase, ADFI was decreased for control animals compared to 0.15% SSQ (3.17, 3.30, 3.19, 3.18 kg/d; P < 0.04). Overall, there were no significant differences for growth criteria measured, likely due to contradicting responses to SSQ in periods 2 and 3. In this study, during periods of higher environmental heat, there was a quadratic response associated with SSQ. Additional work is needed to determine and quantify benefits of SSQ supplementation during the grow-finish phases of production.
Keywords: DEB, grow-finish, sodium sesquicarbonate