This study was to determine apparent ileal digestibility of acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), dry matter (DM), energy, organic matter (OM), crude ash, digesta viscosity, and gut morphology in nursery pigs fed diets containing xylanase (Lohmann Animal Nutrition GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany). The diet (61% corn, 35% soybean meal, 1% poultry fat, and 3% minerals and vitamins) was mixed with 3 levels of xylanase (0, 700, and 1400 LXU/kg). Thirty-six barrows (17.6 ± 3.3 kg) received one of 3 treatment diets based on a randomized complete block design with the initial body weight (BW) as a block. Pigs were individually housed and received experimental diets twice daily (0700 and 1700 h) at a fixed amount based on BW of pigs (0.09 × BW0.75 kg). Pigs were fed diets for 10 d, and chromium oxide (0.3%) was added to the diets from d 6 as an indigestible external marker. Pigs were euthanized at the end of d 10 for the collection of digesta and tissues. Jejunal digesta were centrifuged to measure viscosity using a viscometer (Brookfield Engineering Laboratories, Stoughton, MA). Diets and freeze-dried ileal digesta were used to measure ADF, NDF, and chromium to calculate apparent ileal digestibility of ADF and NDF. Villus height and crypt depth of jejunum were measured using a microscope (Fisher Scientific, Hampton, NH). Data were analyzed using polynomial contrasts in the MIXED procedure of SAS version 9.3 (SAS Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Morphological measurements and ileal ADF digestibility were not affected by increasing xylanase. However, increasing xylanase supplementation from 0 to 1400 LXU/kg enhanced ileal digestibility of NDF (P < 0.042, linear) from 27.9 to 40.3%, DM (P < 0.006, linear) from 55.4 to 64.6%, OM (P < 0.006, linear) from 59.2 to 67.7%, and energy (P < 0.003, linear) from 58.8 to 68.0%. Viscosity of jejunal digesta decreased (P < 0.023) in a non-linear manner from 2.9 to 2.5 centipoises (cP). In conclusion, the usage of xylanase in corn and soybean meal based pig diets linearly enhanced digestibility of nutrients and affected viscosity of digesta in a non-linear manner.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing doses of bacterial phytase (RONOZYME HiPhos) on performance and carcass characteristics of growing and finishing pigs. The study included 120 castrated males with initial weight of 23.21 ± 1.91 kg and 68 days of age, distributed in a randomized block design with five treatments and eight replicates with three animals each. The pigs were fed five corn-soybean meal-based diets: positive control (PC), supplemented with inorganic phosphorus and calcium; negative control (NC), with 0.13% reduction in available phosphorus and 0.11% in calcium; and three NC diets supplemented with 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 phytase units (FYT)/kg in the feed. Compared with the NC diets without phytase, diets with 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 FYT/kg inclusion increased the daily weight gain by +12% (quadratic, p<0.05) during the growing I period; +2.9, +2.9, and +10.5% (linear, p<0.01), respectively, during the growing II period; and +4.1, +5.1, and +8.2% (linear, p<0.001), respectively, over the entire experimental period. The daily feed intake increased by 0, +2.8, and +4.3% (linear, p<0.05), respectively, considering the entire experimental period; and the final live weight increased by +3.2, +4.2, and +6.1% (linear, p<0.001), respectively. The phytase treatments did not influence feed conversion ratio, carcass weight and yield, backfat thickness, loin depth and carcass lean meat. According to the European Carcass Classification (SEUROP), however, the animals fed the PC diet and the three phytase levels had more carcasses classified as E (between 55–60% lean meat) when compared to carcasses of pigs fed the NC. Supplementing increasing levels of phytase to a corn- and soybean meal-based diet with inorganic P and Ca reduction improved daily weight gain and feed intake of growing pigs, and such effects were maintained until slaughter age.

This study determined the DE, ME, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of N, and N retention of spray field forages (Bermuda grass, forage sorghum, and sweet sorghum) fed to pigs and the effects of the supplemental feed enzymes on energy and N utilization. A basal diet was formulated with 96% corn and 4% amino acids, minerals, and vitamins. Test diets contained 85% basal diet + 15% Bermuda grass, forage sorghum, or sweet sorghum. Allzyme SSF (Alltech, Nicholasville, KY) was used as a feed enzyme, which was composed of cellulase, glucanase, xylanase, phytase, and protease. The basal diet and test diets were evaluated by using 4 sets of 2 × 2 Latin square designs consisting of 2 pigs and 2 periods with a total of 32 barrows (38.7 ± 7.9 kg). Each period (10-d adjustment and 4-d collection) had 2 Latin squares. The 2 treatments were levels of enzyme supplementation (0 or 200 mg/kg). Pigs received experimental diets twice daily (0700 and 1700 h) at a fixed amount based on BW of pigs (0.09 × BW0.75 kg). On d 10, chromic oxide (0.5%) was added to the diets at 1700 h as an external marker. Fecal and urine samples were collected during 4 consecutive days. The basal diet contained 3,850 kcal DE/kg, 3,769 kcal ME/kg, 86.06% ATTD of N, and 71.10% N retention and was not affected by enzyme supplementation. Bermuda grass contained 893 kcal DE/kg, 845 kcal ME/kg, -16.50% ATTD of N, and -37.49% N retention and tended to be improved by enzyme supplementation to 1,211 kcal DE/kg (P = 0.098), 1,185 kcal ME/kg (P = 0.081), and -10.54% N retention (P = 0.076). The ATTD of N of Bermuda grass increased (P < 0.05) to 0.08% by enzyme supplementation. The forage sorghum contained 1,520 kcal DE/kg, 1,511 kcal ME/kg, -0.72% ATTD of N, and -16.99% N retention. The sweet sorghum contained 1,086 kcal DE/kg, 1,061 kcal ME/kg, -75.47% ATTD of N, and -49.22% N retention. Enzyme supplementation did not improve energy digestibility of forage sorghum and sweet sorghum. Nitrogen in these forages was poorly utilized. In conclusion, spray field forages including Bermuda grass, forage sorghum, and sweet sorghum can partly be utilized in pig feed to provide energy, although N is rather poorly digested. Feed enzymes could enhance both energy and N utilization in Bermuda grass but not sorghum.

Background Intestinal health remains a key factor in animal production because it is essential for digestion, absorption and bacterial fermentation. Feed additives have been used to attenuate the weaning stress such as Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and benzoic acid (C7H6O2). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of of benzoic acid and probiotics (BA + P) on performance, diarrhea and cecal microbiota of piglets in the nursery phase (23 to 65 days). Results One hundred and sixty weaned piglets with an initial weight of 6.335 ± 0.698 kg and 23 days of age were submitted to four treatments: supplementation with 2500 ppm of Zinc oxide (ZnO), supplementation with a commercial blend of benzoic acid and probiotics (Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415; Vevogut P®) (BA + P), supplementation with Zinc oxide plus benzoic acid and probiotics (ZnO + BA + P), and controls receiving only the basal diet without any supplementation. At 65 days of age, 32 piglets (n = 8 per treatment) were slaughtered for the evaluation of the cecal microbiota. Supplementation with ZnO and BA + P were associated with better feed conversion (P < 0.05) in the early stage (23 to 49 days) and with an improvement in all performance parameters over the entire experimental period. The occurrence of diarrhea was lower (P < 0.05) in the BA + P group. The 4 most abundant phyla along with unclassified bacteria represented 93% of all sequences. Firmicutes dominated the cecal microbiota of all groups, followed by Bacteroidetes. Richness represented by the observed number of genera and by the Chao index were statistically lower in ZnO and ZnO + BA + P supplemented animals compared to controls. The beta diversity analysis that compares similarities between bacterial communities demonstrated formation of two distinct clusters containing samples with and without supplementation with ZnO, confirming a strong influence of ZnO on the intestinal microbiota. Conclusion The use of Benzoic acid with probiotics yields similar performance results with lower impact on the gut microbiota compared to ZnO, and it should be considered as a potential alternative in swine production.

Improvements in sow productivity have raised questions regarding dietary vitamin D recommendations. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the housing system with access to sunlight exposure and supplementation of 25‐hydroxicholecalciferol on performance and serum levels of 25(OH)D3 in sows during gestation and lactation. Sows were distributed in an experimental design with two housing systems: gestation crates or gestation free‐range system with external area for sunlight exposure; and two diets: 0 or 50 μg of 25‐hydroxicholecalciferol kg−1. The use of 25‐hydroxicholecalciferol tended (P = 0.052) to improve total born and influenced (P = 0.046) on number of born alive. Litter weight at birth was also increased (P = 0.01) by 25‐hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation; 25‐hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation and housing system (free‐range with sunlight exposure) tended to increase weaning weight (P = 0.07) and litter daily gain (P = 0.051) during lactation. Exposure to sunlight and 25‐hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation increased 25(OH)D3 serum levels when compared with control treatment during gestation (136.95 vs. 113.92 ng mL−1; P = 0.035) and lactation (120.29 vs. 88.93 ng mL−1; P = 0.026). In conclusion, the association of 25‐hydroxicholecalciferol supplementation with exposure to sunlight during gestation improved significantly 25(OH)D3 serum levels and consequently performance traits in gestation and lactation.

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Vitamin D is an essential key modulator of metabolism in pigs. Improvements in sow productivity have raised questions regarding dietary vitamin recommendations. In this sense, vitamin D serum levels could be limiting to attend high demanding phases. The present study aimed to study the impact of housing system with access to sunlight exposure and supplementation of 25(OH)D3 (Hy-D®) on performance and serum levels of 25(OH)D3 in sows during gestation and lactation. A total of 48 mixed parity sows were distributed in a factorial 2 x 2 experimental design (2 housing systems: gestation crates or free-range system with external area for sunlight exposure; and 2 diets: 0 or 50µg of Hy-D® per kg of diet). Sows remained in treatments from insemination until weaning. The housing systems did not influence (P &gt;0.10) performance traits during gestation nor lactation. The use of Hy-D® tended (P=0.052) to improve total born (17.5 vs. 15.4, respectively 50 and 0 µg Hy-D®) and influenced (P=0.046) on number of born alive (13.4 vs. 12.2, respectively 50 and 0 µg Hy-D®). Litter weight at birth was influenced (P=0.01) by Hy-D® supplementation (20.8 vs. 17.5 kg, respectively 50 and 0 µg Hy-D®). Hy-D® supplementation and housing system (free-range with sunlight exposure) tended to increase weaning weight (P=0.07) and litter daily gain (P=0.051) during lactation. Exposure to sunlight and Hy-D® influenced (P=0.008) 25(OH)D3 serum levels when compared to control (without sunlight and 0 µg of Hy-D®) during gestation (132.3 vs. 116.6 ng mL-1, respectively) and lactation (120.3 vs. 92.2 ng mL-1, respectively). In conclusion, our findings showed that the supplementation of Hy-D® during gestation and lactation has a significant impact on performance of sows and their litters. Also, the association of Hy-D® supplementation with exposure to sunlight during gestation improved significantly 25(OH)D3 serum levels and consequently performance traits in gestation and lactation.

Benzoic acid (BA) and essential oils (EO) can minimize growth performance losses due to the removal of antibiotics and change the intestinal health of weaned piglets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of BA and EO on inflammatory response, diarrhea incidence, and growth performance of the nursery phase. One hundred and twenty barrows were weaned at 23 days (6.40 ± 0.53 kg) and assigned into 3 treatments (10 replicates) in randomized block design: basal diet without additives (NC), basal diet with 200 ppm of colistin sulphate (PC), and association of 0,3% benzoic acid and essential oil (BA+EO). The feed intake and body weight were recorded at 0 and 42 days. The feces were assessed daily (per animal) and graded as normal feces (no diarrhea) or liquid or pasty stools (presence of diarrhea). On days 1, 3, and 9, blood samples were collected (5 replicates) for white blood cells (WBC) counts. Growth performance was analyzed by MIXED procedure (SAS, 2009) and the Tukey test was used to compare the means (P &lt; 0.050). The WBC counts were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance, by MIXED procedure. Diarrhea incidence was analyzed by GENMOD procedure (SAS, 2009). The BA+EO treatment showed a similar body weight (P = 0.014) and average daily gain (P = 0.012) than the PC group and lower feed conversion ratio (P = 0.037) compared to the NC group. The pigs of the BA+EO treatment had the lowest diarrhea incidence during the total period (P &lt; 0.001). The supplementation with BA+EO or antibiotics reduced the counts of total WBC (P = 0.008) and neutrophils (P = 0.003). In conclusion, supplementation with BA+EO reduces the inflammatory response and the incidence of diarrhea in the nursery phase, that may be related to the improvement in the FCR.