PSV-23 Phosphorus and nitrogen balance in weaned piglets fed diets containing citrus pulp and exogenous enzymes

Dehydrated citrus pulp (DCP) contains limiting amount of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), probably due to the high content of fiber components and phytic acid. The use of fibrolytic enzymatic complexes could favor the use of DCP in piglets’ diets. Thus, the objective of this work was to determine the balance of P and N in weaned piglets fed diets with increasing levels of DCP, with or without the addition of exogenous enzymes. Forty castrated male piglets with average initial weight of 7.85 ± 1.64 kg were individually distributed in metabolic cages, in a factorial scheme (2x4): with or without exogenous enzymatic complex (carbohydrases + phytase) X levels of DCP inclusion (0, 3, 6 and 9%) to the diets, with five replicates per treatment and one animal per experimental unit. Diets were formulated based on corn, soybean meal, powdered milk, powdered whey, sugar, soybean oil, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and additives. Experimental diets were provided for 12 d with the initial 7 d being the adaptation period. Ferric oxide (Fe2O3) was added as an indigestible marker on d 7 and 11, respectively. P and N in diets, feces and urine were determined for P and N balance calculation. There was no interaction (P> 0.05) between the addition of enzymes and the levels of DCP. However, there was a reduction (P= 0.067) of P excreted in the feces by the addition of enzymes, as well as a reduction (P= 0.028) of N excreted in the feces. Increasing DCP levels in diets resulted in a linear increase (P= 0.046) of N excreted in feces and a linear reduction (P= 0.038) of N absorbed. The addition of exogenous enzymes (carbohydrases and phytase) in diets for weaned piglets reduces fecal excretion of P and N, while DCP inclusion increases the N excretion in feces.