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Fermentation characteristics of purified fiber differing in physico-chemical properties were investigated using an in vitro model. Fermentation characteristics and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile differed (P

This study tested the potential of portable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict fatty acids (FA) composition and iodine value (IV) of pig subcutaneous fat. Following carcass splitting, the inner layer of subcutaneous fat at the shoulder from the left carcass side was scanned using a hand-held NIRS probe (350–2500 nm) and analysed for FA composition using gas chromatography. The NIRS successfully predicted the total polysaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and n-3 FA proportions, polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA) ratio, and IV (R2 = 0.90–0.95; root-mean-square error of prediction, RMSEP = 0.019%–1.03% total FA). This portable technology also met the requirements for a quick screening of the proportions of total SFA, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and n-6 FA, n-6/n-3 ratio, and some individual FA such as C18:2n-6 and C18:3n-3 (R2 = 0.80–0.89; RMSEP = 0.37%–1.11% total FA). However, unreliable predictions were found for other individual FA with low variability (coefficient of variation = 4%–8%) such as C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1 (R2 = 0.60–0.77; RMSEP = 0.76%–1.00% total FA). These results show portable NIRS as a suitable technology to predict pig fat quality. In addition, this study has been successful in implementing this portable NIRS technology in a research abattoir to collect spectra directly on the carcass, which would enable carcass sorting based on fat composition or hardness for marketing purposes.

Barley grain samples were dry-rolled using two different methods; multiple roller settings (MRS) vs. single roller setting (SRS). In the MRS method, samples were first separated through 4-, 6-, and 7-mm sieves and then dry-rolled with roller gap settings of 1.000, 1.194, and 1.487 mm, respectively. In the SRS method, samples were dry-rolled using a single roller gap setting of 1.194 mm. The MRS method increased in situ rate of starch disappearance (18.6 vs. 11.9% h-1; P

The nutritional value of zero-tannin (ZT) faba bean for starter pigs is poorly characterized. Five mash diets containing 0, 10, 20, 30 or 40% ZT faba bean in substitution for soybean meal were fed to 75 pens of 5-wk-old pigs for 21 d. Increasing the dietary level of ZT faba bean did not affect average daily weight gain, feed intake or feed efficiency (P > 0.05) for each weekly period and the entire study (days 0 to 21). Increasing the dietary level of ZT faba bean linearly increased apparent total tract digestibility of crude protein and P (P 0.05). In conclusion, young pigs can be fed up to 40% raw, ground ZT faba bean (var. Snowbird) in full substitution for soybean meal in the starter diet.Key words: Digestibility, faba bean, growth performance, soybean meal, starter pig

Wheat-based diets with or without wheat distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) were tested with or without supplementary xylanase (4000 U kg-1 feed) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. In eight ileal-cannulated barrows, xylanase improved the apparent ileal digestibility of energy and threonine in wheat (P < 0.05), but not in wheat DDGS diets (P > 0.10). Xylanase did not affect total tract digestibility of energy or P (P > 0.10). In 72 grower-finisher pigs, xylanase did not increase growth performance of pigs fed either wheat or wheat DDGS (P > 0.10). The differential response of supplementary xylanase to wheat versus wheat DDGS diets indicates that the arabinoxylans in wheat DDGS did not match the specific xylanase activity. Key words: Distiller's dried grains with solubles, digestibility, energy, pig, xylanase

The effects of substituting wheat with crude glycerol as a dietary energy source were evaluated. Seventy-two weaned pigs were fed for 4 wk one of three pelleted wheat-based diets containing 0, 4, or 8% glycerol and formulated to 2.28 Mcal kg-1 net energy (NE) and 5.02 g standardized ileal digestible lysine Mcal-1 NE. For day 0 to 28, body weight increased linearly (P = 0.04); pigs fed 8% glycerol were 1.11 kg heavier than pigs fed 0% glycerol. Glycerol inclusion tended to increase average daily gain linearly (P = 0.066) and increased average daily feed intake quadratically (P = 0.037) without affecting feed efficiency (P > 0.10). Feeding up to 8% dietary crude glycerol by substituting wheat can enhance the growth performance of weaned pigs. Key words: Co-product, digestibility, glycerol, weaned pig

The nutritional value of triticale for weaned pigs is poorly characterized. Six mash diets containing either 66.5% one of two wheat samples or one of four winter or spring triticale cultivars were fed to 72 pens of weaned pigs for 28 d. Average daily feed intake and gain did not differ between pigs fed wheat and triticale diets (P > 0.05). Replacing wheat with triticale increased feed efficiency by 0.02 for spring triticale and 0.03 for winter triticale (P < 0.001). Apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and gross energy was 1.2, 2.5, and 1.0% higher, respectively, for the triticale diets than the wheat diets (P < 0.05). The nutritional value of the four triticale samples was 1.5% higher for energy than the two wheat samples included in western Canada diets for weaned pigs. Key words: Digestibility, growth, triticale, weaned pig, wheat

The nutrient profile of zero-tannin faba bean and its effects on performance and carcass characteristics of grower-finisher pigs was investigated. In exp. 1, chemical characteristics were analyzed. Faba bean contained (as fed) 27.5% crude protein (CP), 1.75% lysine, 0.88% threonine, and 0.21% methionine. Twelve 55-kg barrows were fitted with an ileal cannula and fed twice daily at 3 x maintenance either a 96% faba bean diet or a 62% faba bean diet containing cornstarch to measure apparent total tract energy and ileal amino acid (AA) digestibility, respectively, and calculate standardized ileal digestible (SID) AA and net energy (NE) content. After a 6-d acclimation, faeces were collected for 2 d and ileal digesta for 2 d. Apparent total tract energy digestibility, and digestible energy and NE content were 88.5%, and 3.47 and 2.27 Mcal kg-1 (as fed), respectively. Apparent ileal digestibility was 85.9, 76.1, and 74.1%, and SID AA content was 1.54, 0.70, and 0.16% (as fed), for lysine, threonine, and methionine, respectively. In exp. 2, 100 grower pigs in 20 pens were fed either a soybean or faba bean-based diet regimenfrom 35 to 115 kg. Diets were formulated to equal NE and SID [Grower (35 to 60 kg), 2.40/3.95; Finisher 1 (60 to 90 kg), gilts 2.38/3.15, barrows 2.38/2.76; Finisher 2 (90 to 115 kg), gilts 2.38/2.92, barrows 2.35/2.55; Mcal kg-1 NE/g SID lysine Mcal-1 NE, respectively] using determined NE and SID values for faba bean. Pigs were weighed, feed intake was measured, and carcass measurements were obtained. From 35 to 115 kg, average daily feed intake (ADFI; 2.58 and 2.56 kg d-1, respectively) and gain (0.96 and 0.98 kg d-1) did not differ between faba bean and soybean meal. Feed efficiency was 0.02 higher for soybean meal than for faba bean in the Grower phase (P < 0.05). At slaughter, back fat thickness did not differ; however, loin depth was 4.0 mm thicker for soybean meal than for faba bean (P < 0.05). In summary, zero-tannin faba bean has an attractive nutrient profile and does not alter ADFI or average daily gain (ADG) of grower-finisher pigs at inclusion rates up to 30%.The reduced feed efficiency in the Grower phase and reduced lean thickness for pigs fed faba bean indicate that dietary AA supply might have been limiting for the faba bean diets early in the study. In conclusion, the zero-tannin faba bean is a worthwhile energy and protein feedstuff to consider in swine feed formulation. Key words: Digestibility, energy, faba bean, growth performance, nutritional value, pig

Digestion of extruded starch is poorly characterized. Two diets containing wheat or faba bean starch were extruded individually or combined 50:50 (wt/wt) and fed to weaned pigs. Ileal starch digestion tended to be higher (P < 0.10) for the extruded wheat diet than the extruded faba bean diets, while total tract digestibility of starch and energy was higher (P< 0.05) for the two extruded faba bean starch diets than the extruded wheat diet. Feed intake tended to be higher (P < 0.10) for extruded faba bean starch diet, but final body weight was not affected by extruded starch source. The in vivo kinetics of starch and energy digestion differed between extruded wheat and faba bean starch diets. Key words: digestibility, extrusion, faba bean, starch, weaned pig, wheat

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritional value of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) samples derived from corn, wheat and a wheat/corn blend (4:1). Specifically, the digestibility and digestible contents of energy, amino acids (AA) and P, N and P excretion, and growth performance were determined in grower-finisher pigs. In exp. 1, 12 ileal cannulated barrows (64.6 ± 6.4 kg) had restricted access (2.6 × maintenance) to a wheat-control diet or one of three diets containing 40% DDGS sample of corn, wheat or wheat/corn origin that replaced wheat. For energy, apparent total tract digestibility was highest for wheat (85%; P < 0.05) and did not differ among the DDGS samples (77 to 79%; P > 0.10). Total tract digestible energy (DE) was higher for corn DDGS (4292 kcal kg-1 DM; P < 0.05) than wheat/corn DDGS, wheat DDGS and wheat samples (4038, 4019 and 3807). For lysine, apparent ileal digestibility (AID) was highest for wheat (71%; P < 0.05) and did not differ among DDGS samples (59 to 63%; P > 0.10). The AID lysine content was highest for corn DDGS (0.51% DM; P < 0.05), intermediate for wheat/corn DDGS and wheat DDGS (0.45 and 0.42), and lowest for wheat (0.37%). For P, total tract digestibility was lowest for wheat (15%; P < 0.05) and did not differ among DDGS samples (53 to 56%; P > 0.10). Total N excretion was highest for wheat/corn DDGS and wheat DDGS (55 and 58 g d-1; P < 0.05), intermediate for corn DDGS (44) and lowest for wheat (36). Total P excretion did not differ among DDGS (11 g d-1) and was lowest for wheat (8; P < 0.05). In exp. 2, 100 pigs (52.0 ± 3.3 kg) were fed a wheat-pea control diet or one of three diets containing 25% of the three DDGS samples (3.375 Mcal DE kg-1; 2.50 g SID lysine Mcal-1 DE) for 5 wk. Overall, average daily feed intake (ADFI) and daily gain (ADG) were higher for pigs fed the wheat control diet than the DDGS-containing diets (P < 0.05), but feed efficiency did not differ (P > 0.10). In summary, the digestible nutrient content of wheat DDGS is lower than corn DDGS and higher than wheat. Followin g pre-characterization of digestible nutrient profile, feeding DDGS reduced growth performance indicating that further research is required to improve the nutritional value of DDGS. Key words: Distiller's dried grains with solubles, pig, digestibility, energy, amino acid

Diets with high and low protein content and with or without sugar beet pulp (SBP) were tested in grower and finisher pigs; SBP replaced wheat in grower and barley in finisher pig diets. Urinary N was lowered (P < 0.05) and faecal N not affected (P > 0.10) by low-protein diets. In grower pigs, SBP lowered urinary N (P < 0.05) and interacted with dietary protein (P < 0.10). In finisher pigs, SBP did not affect N excretion patterns (P > 0.10). Reduced dietary protein consistently reduced urinary N excretion, whereas effects of SBP inclusion were dependent on dietary protein content or replaced cereal grain. Key words: Excretion, fibre, nitrogen, pigs, protein

Fibrous components in canola meal and wheat limit their effective use in diets for weaned pigs. Effects of supplementing a carbohydrase (845 and 327 Units g-1 xylanase and β-glucanase) to a wheat-canola meal diet on growth performance, small intestine nutrient digestibility and digesta viscosity were investigated. Ninety-six weaned pigs (7.2 ± 1.2 kg) had free access to control diet [65% wheat, 25% canola meal; 3.15 Mcal digestible energy (DE) kg-1, 10.6 g digestible lysine kg-1] or control diet supplemented with carbohydrase at three inclusion rates (1, 2, or 4 g kg-1) for 28 d. Four pigs were housed per pen for six pens per diet. On days 19 to 21, six pigs per diet were euthanised to collect small intestine digesta. Carbohydrase increased average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) quadratically (P < 0.01) for days 1 to 28, resulting in 16% higher ADFI and 13% higher ADG for 2 g kg-1 carbohydrase compared to control. Carbohydrase did not affect feed efficiency (P > 0.10). The ADG was positively correlated to ADFI (r = 0.94; P < 0.01), but not to feed efficiency (P > 0.10). Carbohydrase did not affect digestibility of dry matter (DM) and energy (P > 0.10). Carbohydrase at 4 g kg-1 only reduced digesta viscosity 30% in the distal small intestine compared to control (P < 0.05). Carbohydrase supplementation increased ADFI and thereby ADG, but not feed efficiency and nutrient digestibility, suggesting that reduction of dietary fibrous components using carbohydrase may stimulate voluntary feed intake of pigs fed diets limiting in DE. Key words: Carbohydrase, canola meal, wheat, pig, feed intake, digestibility

The ability of pigs to consume sufficient nutrients for optimal performance is an important consideration in commercial pork production. Nutrient intake levels are directly related to voluntary feed intake. Voluntary feed intake in pigs is influenced by several factors including environmental conditions (e.g. thermal and social conditions), animal status (e.g., age and physiological status), and feed and feeding conditions (e.g. bulkiness of the feed and feed form). Although the individual effects of many of these factors on voluntary feed intake have been investigated and quantified, little has been done to characterize their interactive effects. Under commercial conditions, voluntary feed intake is clearly influenced by multiple factors at any one time. Thus, there is a need for a means to accurately quantify voluntary feed intake in pigs as affected by the different interacting factors. Until quantitative effects of these interactions are established it is suggested that feed intake be monitored. This can be achieved by obtaining feed intake on representative groups of pigs. Key words: Voluntary feed intake, pigs, determining factors, prediction equations

The present study investigated the effect of ergot alkaloids on performance and clinical symptoms in weaned pigs. Wheat ergot sclerotia (1880 mg alkaloid kg-1; ergocristine, ergotamine, ergosine, ergocryptine, and ergocornine constituting 40, 36, 11, 7, and 6% of the total, respectively) were added on a weight basis to a basal diet at 0.00 (control), 0.05, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00% and fed to 192 weaned pigs (20.4 ± 3.4 d; 6.9 ± 1.3 kg; mean ± SD) for 28 d, beginning 7 d post-weaning. Pigs fed the 1.00% diet gained 82 and 38% less than the control (P < 0.001, 211 vs. 39 g d-1, wk 1 and 432 vs. 269 g d-1, wk 2) and body weight on day 28 was reduced quadratically by alkaloids (P < 0.005). Ergot alkaloids decreased average daily feed intake (ADFI) quadratically (P < 0.04) and feed efficiency linearly (P < 0.03) (0.62 vs. 0.44; control vs. 1.00%) over the entire period, but ADFI was not affected during the initial 14 d (P > 0.20). Ergot alkaloids decreased serum prolactin quadratically (P < 0.002) and urea nitrogen concentrations (P < 0.05). The maximum tolerable ergot level in the diet was 0.10 and 0.05% based on average daily gain (ADG) and ADFI, respectively, corresponding to 2.07 mg and 1.04 mg alkaloid kg-1 diet. Key words: Pig, ergot, alkaloid, toxicity, performance, prolactin

Phosphorus excretion may have a major impact on the environment if it is not managed properly. The success of management strategies for reducing P excretion of pigs is dependent partly on more accurate estimates of P requirements, specifically digestible instead of total P requirements. Performance and metabolism studies were conducted to determine digestible P requirements of grower pigs based on performance, plasma and bone P, and P excretion and retention variables, using 200 pigs (23 ± 0.9 kg) and 20 barrows (54 ± 3.1 kg), respectively. Pigs were fed one of five concentrations of dietary digestible P (0.19, 0.24, 0.33, 0.35, and 0.38%). Increasing digestible P quadratically increased average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.01), feed intake (P < 0.05), and feed efficiency (P < 0.001). Barrows had a higher ADG than gilts (0.890 vs. 0.838 kg d-1; P < 0.05); however, digestible P requirement was higher for gilts than for barrows (6.92 vs. 6.17 g d-1 or 0.36 vs. 0.32% in diet; P < 0.05). In barrows, increasing digestible P intake quadratically increased P in plasma and urine (P < 0.01), and linearly increased P in faeces (P < 0.01), suggesting that P excretion depends on excess P intake. Using regression analysis, digestible P requirements were 6.45 g d-1 with ADG, 7.46 g d-1 with bone P, 6.01 g d-1 with plasma P, 3.61 g d-1 with urinary P, 5.86 g d-1 with retained P, and 5.11 g d-1 with retained N. Feeding P closer to pig requirements will reduce P excretion. Key words: Phosphorus, requirement, pig

Diets containing corn, barley or wheat as the main carbohydrate source were formulated to a similar nutrient content and fed for 3 wk to weaned pigs. Gut bacterial populations differed significantly between the three diets and these differences were correlated with the fibre contents of the diets. Key words: Corn, wheat, barley, intestinal bacteria, pigs