Effects of a Sulfur-Containing Preservative Blend on Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs Challenged with Diets Containing Elevated Level of Deoxynivalenol

This study evaluated the effects of a sulfur-containing preservative blend (Defusion^®; Provimi, Brookville, OH) on growth performance of nursery pigs fed diets containing deoxynivalenol (DON) contaminated corn and corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The study utilized 920 pigs (6.5 ± 0.1 kg initial BW, 26 d of age), 10 pens/treatment, and 23 pigs/pen. A common diet containing 2.5% DDGS was fed the first 7 d post-weaning, then pens were blocked by d 0 body weight and randomly allocated to treatment. Treatments were: 1) Corn and DDGS containing DON (QC) + 0% Defusion, 2) QC + 0.125% Defusion, 3) QC + 0.25% of Defusion, 4) QC + 0.5% Defusion. Treatments were applied in two phases: phase 2 was fed from d 0 to d 14 (10% DDGS) and phase 3 was fed from d 14 to d 32 (17.5% DDGS). All diets were manufactured utilizing master batches and respective Defusion amount was added to the mixer before pelleting. Average DON levels in phase 2 and 3 diets were 2.8 and 4.6 ppm, respectively. Pen weights were obtained on d 0, d 14, and d 32. Calculations were made for ADG, ADFI, G:F, cost/kg of gain, and return over feed cost (ROFC). Orthogonal contrasts were constructed and data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS 9.3 (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). For phase 2, increasing Defusion linearly increased ADG, ADFI, and final BW (P < 0.01). Gain efficiency and cost/kg of gain were quadratically impacted as Defusion increased in the diet with the optimal level at 0.125% Defusion (P < 0.05). For phase 3, increasing Defusion linearly increased ADG, ADFI, G:F, and final BW (P < 0.01). Gain efficiency, ADG, and cost/kg of gain were quadratically impacted as Defusion increased in the diet with the optimal level at 0.5% Defusion (P < 0.01). For phase 2 and 3 combined, increasing Defusion linearly increased ADG, ADFI, and final BW (P < 0.01). Gain efficiency was linearly and quadratically improved (P < 0.05) as Defusion increased in the diet. Cost/kg of gain was quadratically impacted (P < 0.05) as Defusion increased in the diet with the optimal level at 0.5% Defusion. Compared to 0% Defusion, ROFC linearly increased (P < 0.01) by $0.18, $1.80, $3.16 for 0.125%, 0.25%, and 0.5% Defusion, respectively. In conclusion, 0.5% Defusion optimized growth performance and profitability of pigs fed diets containing DON.