Effects of Increasing Chloride Concentrations on Growth Performance of 15- to 25-lb Nursery Pigs

Authors

D. Shawk, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
K. N. Nemechek, Kansas State UniversityFollow
R. D. Goodband, Department of Animal Science and Industry, Kansas State UniversityFollow
J. C. Woodworth, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
M. D. Tokach, Department of Animal Science and Industry, Kansas State UniversityFollow
S. S. Dritz, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
J. M. DeRouchey, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow

Keywords

chloride, nursery pig, salt, sodium

Abstract

A total of 300 nursery pigs (initially 15.5 lb; Line 241 × 600; DNA, Columbus, NE) were used in a 21-d trial to determine effects of increasing dietary Cl on nursery pig growth performance. Upon entry to the nursery, pigs were allotted by BW and fed a common starter diet (0.33% Na and 0.76% Cl) for 7 d. On d 7 after weaning, considered d 0 in the trial, pens were assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments that were fed from d 0 to 14. Experimental treatments included a control diet containing 0.33% Na and 0.55% Cl provided by 0.78% added salt, or 5 diets with 0.33% Na and added potassium chloride to provide 0.09, 0.21, 0.32, 0.45, or 0.55% Cl. A common diet (0.18% Na and 0.49% Cl) was then fed from d 14 to 21.

From d 0 to 14, ADG, ADFI, and F/G improved (quadratic, P<0.05) as dietary Cl increased from 0.09 to 0.32% with no further benefits observed thereafter. Pigs fed the 0.55% Cl diet had greater (P<0.05) ADFI, but tended (P = 0.053) to have poorer F/G than pigs fed the control diet with 0.55% Cl from added salt. Pigs fed the control diet and the 0.55% Cl diet had similar ADG. When pigs were fed the common diet from d 14 to 21, ADG decreased (linear, P = 0.045) and ADFI increased (linear, P = 0.033) in pigs previously fed increasing dietary Cl concentration. Pigs previously fed increasing Cl concentration had poorer (quadratic, P<0.001) F/G. Pigs previously fed the 0.55% Cl diet had greater (P = 0.009) ADFI but tended (P = 0.059) to have poorer F/G than pigs previously fed the control diet with 0.55% Cl from added salt. There was no evidence of difference to indicate that previously feeding the control diet or the 0.55% Cl diet affected ADG. From d 0 to 21, ADG improved (quadratic, P = 0.002) as dietary Cl increased from 0.09 to 0.32% with no further benefits observed thereafter. Average daily feed intake increased (linear, P = 0.002) as dietary Cl increased. Pigs fed the 0.55% Cl diet had increased (P<0.05) ADFI but poorer F/G than pigs fed the control diet with no evidence of difference to indicate that dietary treatments affected ADG. In conclusion, results of this study indicate a dietary Cl concentration of 0.32% would optimize ADG, ADFI, and F/G of 15 to 25 lb pigs, which is slightly lower than the NRC current estimate of 0.45%.

Recommended Citation

Shawk, D.; Nemechek, K. N.; Goodband, R. D.; Woodworth, J. C.; Tokach, M. D.; Dritz, S. S.; and DeRouchey, J. M. (2017) "Effects of Increasing Chloride Concentrations on Growth Performance of 15- to 25-lb Nursery Pigs," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 3: Iss. 7. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7484