Department of Animal Science

 

Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Economics of Pigs Fed Diets Containing a Corn Germ-Corn Bran Product

Date of this Version

January 2003

Comments

Published in 2003 Nebraska Swine Report, compiled by Duane Reese, Extension Swine Specialist, Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Published by Cooperative Extension Division, Agricultural Research Division, and Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Abstract

Due to an increased number of corn milling plants in Nebraska, it is necessary to evaluate the use of corn by-products in swine diets. In these experiments, the inclusion of a corn germ-corm bran product into swine diets was evaluated for its effects on growth performance, carcass composition, carcass quality traits, and economic value. In Experiment 1, individually housed growing-finishing pigs were fed: 1)corn-soybean, 2) corn-soybean meal-4% bleachable tallow, or 3) corn-soybean meal-8% corn germ-bran diets. During the 93-day trial there were no differences for average daily gain (ADG; P>0.10) or average daily feed intake (ADFI; P>0.10) among treatments. The numerical improvements of ADG and ADFI when pigs were fed the diet containing tallow resulted in a 9% improvement in feed efficiency (ADFI/ADG; P<0.001). Fat-O-Meter data suggested that pigs fed the diet containing tallow were leaner than pigs fed the corn-soybean meal diet (P<0.01). Treatments imposed upon group-housed growing-finishing pigs in Experiment 2 were: 1)corn-soybean meal, 2)corn-soybean meal-4% bleachable tallow, 3)corn-soybean meal-8% corn germ-bran, and 4) corn-soybean meal-16% corn germ-bran. During the 102-day trial there were no differences among treatments for ADG (P>0.10). Pigs fed the diet containing tallow had a 5.3% reduction in ADFI (P<0.007) and 8.7% improvement in feed efficiency (ADFI/ADG: P<0.005)compared to all other treatments. Ultrasound scans revealed no differences (P>0.10) in longissimus muscle area among treatments and an increased (P<0.02) backfat depth for pigs fed the 4% tallow diet compared to other treatments. Calculated (NPPC, 1991) carcass lean content of pigs fed the 4% tallow diet was less than (P<0.06) the other treatments. Dressing percentage was greater (P<0.05) for pigs fed diets containing tallow compared to pigs fed diets containing corn germ-bran. In general, longissimus muscle quality was improved for pigs fed a control (corn-soybean meal) diet versus other treatments; however, all treatment means were within acceptable ranges for muscle quality traits. Depending on the corn price (we used values between $1.75 and $3.00/bu) and market price for market hogs (we used values between $10 and $50/cwt live), the value of corn germ-corn bran in growing-finishing diets ranges between $0 and $104 per ton.

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