Effect of Diet Type and Added Copper on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Energy Digestibility, Gut Morphology, and Mucosal mRNA Expression of Finishing Pigs

Authors

K. F. Coble, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
D. D. Burnett, Kansas State UniversityFollow
R. D. Goodband, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
J. M. Gonzales, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
J. Usry, Micronutrients, Indianapolis, IN
M. D. Tokach, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
J. R. Pluske, Murdoch University, Australia
J. M. DeRouchey, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
J. C. Woodworth, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
S. S. Dritz, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
J. R. Flohr, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
M. A. Vaughn, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow

Keywords

by-product, copper, finishing pigs, gene expression

Abstract

A total of 757 pigs (PIC 337 × 1050, initially 60.8 lb) were used to determine the effects of added Cu (TBCC, tribasic copper chloride, IntelliBond C; Micronutrients, Inc., Indianapolis, IN) and diet type on growth performance, carcass characteristics, energy digestibility, gut morphology, and mucosal mRNA expression of finishing pigs. Pens of pigs were allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments, balanced on average pen weight in a randomized complete-block design with 26 to 28 pigs per pen and 7 replications per treatment. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of diet type, a corn-soybean meal-based diet or a high by-product diet with 30% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and 15% bakery meal (by-product), and with or without added Cu (0 or 150 ppm added Cu). There were no Cu × diet type interactions for growth performance. Overall, neither added Cu nor diet type influenced growth performance. Pigs fed the by-product diet had decreased carcass yield (P = 0.007) and HCW F/G (P = 0.013), and tended to have decreased HCW (P = 0.067) and HCW ADG (P = 0.056) compared to pigs fed the corn-soybean meal-based diet. A Cu × diet type interaction (P<0.05) existed for DM and GE digestibility during the early finishing period as added Cu improved digestibility of DM and GE in the corn-soybean mealbased diet, but not in the by-product diet. During the late finishing period, added Cu increased DM and GE digestibility (P = 0.060), while pigs fed the by-product diet had decreased DM and GE digestibility (P = 0.001). For gut morphology, pigs fed added Cu had decreased crypt depth (P = 0.017) in the distal small intestine. Relative mRNA expression of intestinal fatty acid binding protein (iFABP) was decreased (P = 0.032) in pigs fed added Cu. In summary, adding 150 ppm added Cu or including 30% DDGS and 15% bakery meal into a corn-soybean meal-based diet did not influence growth performance. However, HCW ADG and HCW G/F were reduced in pigs fed the by-product diet. Only minor differences in gut morphology or mRNA expression were observed from pigs fed diets with high levels of Cu or by-products compared to those fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet.

Recommended Citation

Coble, K. F.; Burnett, D. D.; Goodband, R. D.; Gonzales, J. M.; Usry, J.; Tokach, M. D.; Pluske, J. R.; DeRouchey, J. M.; Woodworth, J. C.; Dritz, S. S.; Flohr, J. R.; and Vaughn, M. A. (2015) "Effect of Diet Type and Added Copper on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Energy Digestibility, Gut Morphology, and Mucosal mRNA Expression of Finishing Pigs," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 1: Iss. 7. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1136