Evaluation of Cellulose in Diets with and without Added ZnO on Nursery Pig Performance

Authors

J. A. Chance, Kansas State UniversityFollow
M. D. Tokach, Department of Animal Science and Industry, Kansas State UniversityFollow
H. I. Calderón, Kansas State UniversityFollow
J. C. Woodworth, Kansas State UniversityFollow
J. M. DeRouchey, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
R. D. Goodband, Department of Animal Science and Industry, Kansas State UniversityFollow

Keywords

cellulose, fecal dry matter, growth, nursery pigs, zinc

Abstract

A total of 1,296 pigs (L337 × 1050; PIC, Hendersonville, TN; initially 10.6 lb) were used in a 42-d study to evaluate the addition of cellulose in diets with and without the inclusion of pharmacological levels of Zn on nursery pig growth performance. Pigs were weaned at approximately 20 d of age and randomly allotted to pens in a randomized complete block design by body weight (BW). Pens of pigs were allotted to 1 of 4 dietary treatments with 27 pigs per pen and 12 replications per treatment. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of cellulose (0 vs. 1%; J. Retten­maier USA LP, Schoolcraft, MI) and Zn (200 ppm vs. 3,000 ppm in phase 1 diets and 110 ppm vs. 2,000 ppm in phase 2 diets with added zinc provided by zinc oxide). Treat­ment diets were formulated in two dietary phases which were fed from approximately d 0 to 7 and 7 to 21 with a common phase 3 diet fed from d 21 to 42 post-weaning. Pig weights and feed disappearance were collected weekly to determine average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency (F/G). On day 16 or 17, fecal samples were collected from 3 pigs per pen to determine fecal DM, and all pens were visually evaluated for fecal consistency. There were no Zn × cellulose interactions observed. For the experimental period (d 0 to 21), pigs fed diets containing added Zn had increased (P<0.001) ADG, ADFI, and BW and improved (P<0.001) F/G while those that were fed cellulose had decreased (P= 0.011) ADG. For fecal dry matter, there was no evidence for difference (P>0.10) between any of the four dietary treat­ments but those fed added ZnO had visually firmer feces (P<0.001). When pigs were fed a common diet (d 21 to 42), pigs previously fed diets containing added ZnO had increased (P<0.001) ADG and ADFI. For the overall period (d 0 to 42), pigs that had been fed added Zn had increased (P<0.001) ADG, ADFI, and BW and improved (P<0.001) F/G, while those that had been fed cellulose had decreased (P= 0.023) ADG. In conclusion, there were no interactive effects between added cellulose and Zn. The addi­tion of cellulose reduced ADG, but did not affect F/G, while the inclusion of pharma­cological levels of Zn improved all growth criteria.

Recommended Citation

Chance, J. A.; Tokach, M. D.; Calderón, H. I.; Woodworth, J. C.; DeRouchey, J. M.; and Goodband, R. D. (2020) "Evaluation of Cellulose in Diets with and without Added ZnO on Nursery Pig Performance," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 6: Iss. 10. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7987