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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Laboratory for Agriculture and The Environment » Agroecosystems Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #275725
Title: Evaluation of commercially available enzymes, probiotics, or yeast on apparent total-tract nutrient digestion and growth in nursery and finishing pigs fed diets containing corn dried distillers grains with solubles

Author
item Kerr, Brian
item Weber, Thomas
item SHURSON, JERRY - University Of Minnesota

Submitted to: Professional Animal Scientist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2013
Publication Date: 9/13/2013
Citation: Kerr, B.J., Weber, T.E., Shurson, J.C. 2013. Critical evaluation of commercially available enzymes, probiotics, and yeast on apparent nutrient digestion and growth in nursery and finishing pigs fed diets containing 30% dried distillers grains with solubles. Journal of Animal Science. 29:508-517.

Interpretive Summary: With pigs being able to utilize moderate levels of fiber in the nursery and finisher period, there is a need to increase digestion of structural carbohydrates, especially in corn-derived co-products. Use of exogenous feed additives to improve the nutritional value of corn co-products, particularly dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) which are relatively high in fiber would be of great value to the swine industry. Based on data obtained in this experiment, the exogenous feed additives evaluated had variable and small effects on nutrient digestibility, but none of the products affected starter and finishing pig growth performance when fed nutritionally adequate corn-soy diets containing 30% DDGS. Research results described in this report provides nutritionists at universities, feed companies, allied industries, and swine production facilities data that show that to date, no commercially available feed enzyme or probiotic improves nutrient digestibility or pig performance.

Technical Abstract: The ability of enzymes, direct fed microbials, or yeast to enhance nutrient utilization or growth performance in nursery or finishing pigs fed diets containing increased levels of corn fiber from dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) is largely unknown. Ten commercially available feed additives were selected which contained various types and levels of enzymatic or microbial activities. A total of 192 nursery pigs (11.9 kg initial BW) and 96 finishing pigs (98.4 kg initial BW) were allotted to individual stainless steel pens and fed their respective diets for 5-wk. Diets contained corn, soybean meal, and 30% DDGS, were adequate in all nutrients relative to the NRC (1998), and were offered ad libitum in meal form. Additives were added at the recommended rates and were assumed to contain the active ingredients and activity level listed on the product label. Titanium dioxide was added as an indigestible marker to determine apparent DM, C, N, S, ether extract (EE), ADF, and NDF digestibility. In the starter experiment, Allzyme decreased GE, N, C, P, ADF, and NDF digestibility (P < 0.05), Econase decreased S, P, and NDF digestibility (P < 0.05), and Releezyme decreased GE, N, C, P, ADF, and NDF digestibility (P < 0.05), while BactoCel increased S digestibility (P < 0.05). Digestibility of GE, N, C, S, P, ADF, and NDF increased from wk-1 to wk-5 (P < 0.05), while digestibility of EE decreased from wk-1 to wk-5 (P < 0.05). In the finisher experiment, Allzyme increased P digestibility (P < 0.05), BactoCel decreased N digestibility (P < 0.05), BioPlus2B decreased EE digestibility (P < 0.05), Hemicel decreased ADF digestibility (P < 0.05), Porzyme decreased GE, N, C. S, P, ADF, and NDF digestibility (P < 0.05), Releezyme decreased GE, N, C, S, P, ADF, and EE digestibility (P < 0.05), and XPC yeast decreased GE and C digestibility (P < 0.05). Nutrient digestibility did not change from wk-1 to wk-5 for finishing pigs. No effect on nursery or finishing pig growth performance was noted (P > 0.10) due to any feed additive. In conclusion, even though some of the feed additive products evaluated had variable, but small effects on nutrient digestibility, none of the products affected starter and finishing pig growth performance when fed nutritionally adequate corn-soy diets containing 30% DDGS.