Effects of Increasing Soybean Meal Levels on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Pigs in Grower and Late-Finishing Phases

Authors

Jamil E. G. Faccin, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
Mike D. Tokach, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
Joel M. DeRouchey, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
Jordan T. Gebhardt, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
Robert D. Goodband, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
Jason C. Woodworth, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow

Keywords

carcass yield, crude protein, finishing pig, soybean meal

Abstract

Four experiments were conducted to determine the effects of increasing soybean meal (SBM) on grower and late-finishing pig performance. In Exp. 1, a total of 615 pigs (initially 95.2 ± 1.51 lb) were used in a 28-d trial with 14 replicate pens per treatment and 8 to 10 pigs per pen. Pens of pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments which were corn-based with soybean meal levels of 19.1, 22.6, 26.3, 29.9, or 33.5%. In Exp. 2, a total of 615 pigs (initially 225.5 ± 3.42 lb) were used in a 30-d trial with 14 replicate pens per treatment and 8 to 10 pigs per pen. Pens of pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments which were corn-based with soybean meal levels of 11.2, 14.2, 17.2, 20.2, or 23.2%. In both experiments, treatments were assigned in a completely randomized design and soybean meal inclusion was increased, replacing feed grade amino acids to form the treatments. For Exp. 1, increasing SBM increased (linear,P= 0.038) ADG and improved (P<0.001) feed efficiency, with the greatest change from increasing SBM from 19.1 to 22.6%. For late-finishing pigs (Exp. 2), no differences (P>0.10) were observed for any growth performance or carcass criteria. Experiments conducted in a second series were conducted with the same basic procedures as Exp. 1 and 2, but all diets contained DDGS, and were conducted in a commercial facility. In Exp. 3, a total of 1,080 pigs (initially 86.1 ± 1.72 lb) were used in a 28-d trial with 10 replicate pens per treatment and 27 pigs per pen. Pens of pigs were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments which were corn-20% DDGS-based and soybean meal was added at 18.2, 23.5, 28.9, or 34.3%. For Exp. 4, a total of 1,080 pigs (initially 225.2 ± 2.50 lb) were used in a 33-d trial with 10 replicate pens per treatment and 27 pigs per pen. Pens of pigs were assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments which were corn-10% DDGS-based with soybean meal levels of 9.5, 13.5, 17.5, or 21.5%. When DDGS was included in the diet, no differences (P>0.10) were observed for any growth performance criteria for early- or late-finishing pigs. In conclusion, increasing levels of SBM (up to 33.5% of the diet) in grower pig diets linearly improved ADG and feed efficiency in corn-soybean meal-based diets. However, when DDGS was included in the diet, pig performance was not affected when SBM ranged from 18.2 to 34.3%. For late-finishing pig diets, increasing the SBM from approximately 10 to 23% in diets with or without DDGS did not result in any changes in growth and carcass parameters. These results suggest that high levels of SBM in the diet (no feed-grade amino acids) are well tolerated and do not negatively affect pig growth.

Recommended Citation

Faccin, Jamil E. G.; Tokach, Mike D.; DeRouchey, Joel M.; Gebhardt, Jordan T.; Goodband, Robert D.; and Woodworth, Jason C. (2023) "Effects of Increasing Soybean Meal Levels on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Pigs in Grower and Late-Finishing Phases," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 9: Iss. 7. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.8523