Dietary rice improves growth performance, mucosal enzyme activities and plasma urea nitrogen in weaning piglets

Abstract

In this study, we evaluated the nutritional functions of rice for weaning piglets. Sixteen weaning piglets with an average initial weight of 7.2 kg were divided into two groups. One group was fed a corn-soybean meal based diet, and the other was fed a rice-soybean meal based diet, containing 50% corn and rice, respectively. A 2 weeks growth trial was conducted and growth performance, intestinal mucosal enzyme activities and plasma urea nitrogen were measured. The average daily gain in rice-fed piglets was significantly higher than that in corn-fed piglets and the average daily feed intake tended to be higher in rice-fed piglets than in corn-fed piglets. Maltase and aminopeptidase activities (mol/g tissue) in the jejunum in rice-fed piglets were significantly higher than those in corn-fed piglets, although these enzyme activities were not different in the duodenum. Sucrase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV activities in the two groups were not different in either the duodenum or jejunum. Although the feed (nitrogen) intake was higher in rice-fed piglets, the plasma urea nitrogen in rice-fed piglets was significantly lower (P = 0.006) than that in corn-fed piglets. These results indicate that rice is a good alternative feedstuff for the diet of weaning piglets.

Effects of rice feeding on growth performance and protein (amino acids) metabolism in weanling piglets

“…The clear difference in FE and ADFI between our previous report and this report could partially be explained by the difference in total lysine content in the diets. Lysine content in the diets of this experiment was 15.5-16.3 g/kg, which satisfy the NRC feeding standard (NRC, 2012); however, in our previous report (Yagami & Takada, 2017), lysine content was 12.9-13.0 g/kg, which satisfied the Japanese feeding standard. Expected weight gain in Japanese feeding standard is 250 g/day, which is lower than the ADG (468 g/day) observed in our previous report.…”

“…This report is, to our knowledge, for the first to show higher FE in rice-fed piglets than in corn-fed piglets. In our previous report (Yagami & Takada, 2017), the FE between corn-and rice-fed piglets was not different, although ADG and ADFI were significantly higher in rice-fed piglets than in corn-fed piglets. The clear difference in FE and ADFI between our previous report and this report could partially be explained by the difference in total lysine content in the diets.…”

“…Similar improvement of growth performance has also been reported in chicks (Ebling et al, ; Fujimoto, Fujita, & Takada, ; Gonzalez‐Alvarade, Jimenez‐Moreno, Lazaro, & Mateos, ; Jimenez‐Moreno, Gonzalez‐Alvarado, Lazaro, & Mateos, ). In our previous report (Yagami & Takada, ), plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) in rice‐fed piglets was significantly lower than that in corn‐fed piglets, suggesting that rice feeding might reduce the protein and amino acids degradation. Furthermore, higher feed intake in rice‐fed piglets was observed, suggesting that lysine and some other amino acids in the diets were slightly deficient.…”

“…DM and CP digestibility in each diet were determined using a chromic oxide indicator method, with each diet containing 0.1% of chromic oxide. Precisely, the methods were followed as described previously (Yagami & Takada, 2017).…”

Effects of rice feeding and carnitine addition on growth performance and mRNA expression of protein metabolism‐related genes in broiler grower chicks

“…It is generally utilized for human food, but it is also used as an animal feed. In studies on piglets and broilers, some researchers have recently suggested that feeding piglets and broilers a rice diet instead of a corn diet improves growth performance (Ebling et al., 2015; Fujimoto, Fujita, & Takada, 2018; González‐Alvarado, Jiménez‐Moreno, Lázaro, & Mateos, 2007; Mateos, Martin, Latorre, Vicente, & Lazaro, 2006; Tasaka, Tachihara, Kagawa, & Takada, 2020; Vicente, Valencia, Pérez‐Serrano, Lázaro, & Mateos, 2008; Yagami & Takada, 2017). Feeding rice to pigs and chickens is a common practice all over the world, and interest in the use of rice‐based diets in broiler production has recently increased in Japan.…”