A porous ceramic particle with or without a preservative blend did not impair apparent digestibility of macro- and micro-nutrients of post-weaned pigs

Authors: DAVIS, EMILY - Texas Tech University; LIANG, YU - Texas Tech University; WALLACE, KAYLA - Texas Tech University; ZIMMERMAN, AMANDA - Texas Tech University; SIEBECKER, MATTHEW - Texas Tech University; Broadway, Paul; Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll; BALLOU, MICHAEL - Texas Tech University

Submitted to: Translational Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2022
Publication Date: 6/9/2022
Citation: Davis, E.M., Liang, Y., Wallace, K.P., Zimmerman, A.J., Siebecker, M.G., Broadway, P.R., Carroll, J.A., Ballou, M.A. 2022. A porous ceramic particle with or without a preservative blend did not impair apparent digestibility of macro- and micro-nutrients of post-weaned pigs. Translational Animal Science. 6(3). https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txac078.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txac078

Interpretive Summary: Clays have been included in livestock diets for decades to improve animal health and performance. The beneficial effects of feeding clays to livestock is mainly due to its ability to bind toxins. However, the benefit of including clay in livestock diets can vary depending on the type and form of clay used. Thermally processed clays known as ceramic clays may have more toxin absorbing action and may be better for animal health and performance. But, its action on nutrient digestibility needs to be evaluated. Therefore, scientists from Texas Tech University and ARS' Livestock Issues Research Unit collaborated on a study to evaluate using a ceramic clay in swine feed. Results from this study indicated that including ceramic clay in swine diets did not negatively impact nutrient digestibility or performance of weaned pigs. Thus, ceramic clay may be a better option for including in livestock diets. This data will be of interest to swine producers, swine nutritionist, and scientists working in the field of nutrition and animal health.

Technical Abstract: The objective of the current study was to determine the effects of supplementing a commercial porous ceramic particle, with or without a blend of preservatives on the performance and digestibility of weanling pigs. Fifteen weanling pigs of the Yorkshire, Landrace, and Duroc breeds were blocked by breed and randomly assigned to one of three treatments (n=5): (1) Control, non-medicated diet with no additional feed additives (CON); (2) PowerGuard®, basal diet with 0.25% ceramic particle of the DM mixed into the pelleted feed (PG; MB Nutritional Sciences, Lubbock, TX, 79403); or (3) Power Guard + preservatives, basal diet with 0.3% of the DM into the pelleted feed (PG-D; MB Nutritional Sciences, Lubbock, TX, 79403). The current study was conducted at the USDA Livestock Issues Research Unit Facility in New Deal, TX. This facility was temperature controlled with an average temperature of 28.5ºC. Pigs were offered ad libitum access to feed and water and were housed individually in elevated crates. Body weights were collected upon enrollment on d 0 and at the end of the observation period on d 18. On d 15, a 72-hour total feed and fecal collection period began. Feed and fecal samples were analyzed for DM, CP, Ash, OM, ADF, NDF, zinc, copper, thiamin (vitamin B1), and retinol (vitamin A). Liver samples were collected immediately after harvest and frozen for later mineral analysis. Data were analyzed using Proc Mixed in SAS with dietary group as the main effect and block as the random effect (SAS 9.4, Cary, NC). There were no treatment differences in performance measures including final BW, ADG, or feed to gain (P=0.701). There were no treatment differences in diet nutrient digestibility for DM, CP, Ash, OM, ADF, or NDF (P=0.312). Additionally, there were no treatment effects on zinc, copper, or retinol digestibility (P=0.298); however, thiamin inclusion rate was increased for the PG-D treatment, thus leading to an increased digestibility for thiamin (P=0.018) in the PG-D treatment. There were no treatment differences in hepatic mineral concentrations (P=0.532); except, there was a tendency for pigs fed PG-D to have increased hepatic concentrations of lead and mercury when compared to both PG and CON pigs (P=0.066). In summary, supplementation of a commercial ceramic particle with or without a blend of preservatives to weaned pigs did not affect performance or apparent nutrient digestibility.