The Effect of Supplemental Dietary Lipase and Copper on the Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility of Nursery Pigs.

There are limited data on the effects of exogenous lipase on digestibility and growth performance in weanling pigs. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of lipase and the interaction with copper in the diet. The study was conducted in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement to examine the effects of lipase (Shenzhen Leveking Animal Nutrition; 0 vs 1,000 U/kg) and copper (NRC vs 250 ppm added from copper sulfate). A total of 192 pigs were used in the study, which was conducted in 2 trials of 24 pens each (4 pigs per pen). Pigs were weaned at 21 d (Initial Weight = 5.9±0.3 kg) and allotted to pens based on weight, sex, and litter). Dietary treatments were randomly assigned to pens within weight blocks (Control diet (C), C+ lipase, C+ Cu and C+ lipase + Cu). Diets were formulated to meet or exceed all the nutrient requirements based on the 2012 NRC and fed in 2 phases (d 0 to 14 and d 14 to 28). Titanium dioxide (0.3%) was used as digestibility marker and fecal samples were collected at the end of each phase. Growth performance (ADG, ADFI, and G:F) data were obtained on d 7, 14, 21 and 28 post-weaning and analyzed using PROC GLM. There were no significant lipase x Cu interactions on growth performance. Overall, there was a significant main effect of Cu on BW (16.4 vs 18.1 kg, P< 0.001), ADG (373 vs 432 g/d, P <0.001), ADFI (497 vs 535 g/d, P < 0.020), and G:F (0.75 vs 0.81), P < 0.001). There was a trend for lipase to improve ADG from d 0 to 14 (237 vs 254, P < 0.200) and overall G: F (0.77 vs 0.79, P<0.100). Copper supplementation improved digestibility of fat in phase 1 and N and P digestibility in both phases. There was no consistent effect of lipase or interaction of lipase x copper on nutrient digestibility. In conclusion, Cu supplementation improved growth performance and nutrient digestibility. There was a trend for exogenous lipase to improve the growth performance, but no consistent effect on digestibility and no evidence of a copper x lipase interaction.