Effects of Palm Kernel Expellers on Productive Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and White Blood Cells of Lactating Sows

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of palm kernel expellers on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and changes in white blood cells (WBC) of lactating sows. A total of 14 sows (200±12 kg of average body weight [BW]; 2.5 of average parity) were used and moved from gestation room to farrowing room on d 109 of gestation. Sows were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The treatments were a diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and CON added with 20% of palm kernel expellers (PKE). Sows were fed the treatments for 28 days (weaning) after farrowing. Blood was collected from each sow and 4 randomly selected piglets from each sow before farrowing or on d 3, 7, or 14 of lactation. Sows were fed respective treatments containing 0.2% chromic oxide from d 15 to 21 of lactation. Fecal samples were collected daily for the last 3 days after the 4-d adjustment period. Measurements were performances and WBC changes of sows and litter, nutrient digestibility of sows, and daily diarrhea of litter. Sows fed PKE had greater average daily feed intake (7.38 vs 7.10 kg/d; p<0.05) and lost less BW (−6.85 vs −8.54 kg; p<0.05) and backfat depth (−0.42 vs −0.71 mm; p<0.05) than those fed CON. However, there were no differences on digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and energy and weaning to estrus interval of sows fed either CON or PKE. Piglets from sows fed PKE gained more BW (203 vs 181 g/d; p = 0.08) and had less frequency of diarrhea (6.80 vs 8.56%; p = 0.07) than those from sows fed CON. On the other hand, no difference was found on preweaning mortality of piglets from sows fed either CON or PKE. Sows fed PKE had lower number of WBC (9.57 vs 11.82 ×103/μL; p = 0.09) before farrowing than those fed CON, but no difference on d 3 and 7. Similarly, piglets from sows fed PKE had also lower number of WBC (7.86 vs 9.80 ×103/μL; p<0.05) on d 14 of lactation than those from sows fed CON, but no difference on d 3 and 7. In conclusion, addition of 20% palm kernel expellers to lactation diet based on corn and soybean meal had no negative effects on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and WBC changes of lactating sows.

Dietary protease improves growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and intestinal morphology of weaned pigs

“…soft, partially formed feces; 4 = loose, semi-liquid feces; and 5 = watery, mucous-like feces) each day for the first 2 weeks of this experiment [16]. Frequency of diarrhea was calculated by counting pen days with average diarrhea score from individual pigs in each pen of 4 or greater [17,18]. Whole blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of randomly selected 2 pigs in each pen using EDTA tubes (Becton Dickinson Vacutainer Systems, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) containing anticoagulant on day 1, 3, 7, and 14 after weaning.…”

Dietary protease improves growth rate and protein digestibility of growing-finishing pigs

“…Thus the use of AGP in animal diets has been banned or reduced internationally and at the same time alternatives for AGP have been increasingly demanded. Moreover, the cost of main ingredients in swine diets, such as soybean meal and corn, have been remarkably increased due to the competition among animal feed, human food, and biofuel industries [5][6][7][8]. Especially, soybean meal which is one of main protein sources for swine, but unfortunately it contains various anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) that can inhibit protein utilization by pigs [9][10][11].…”

Effects of dietary carbohydrases on productive performance and immune responses of lactating sows and their piglets

“…Regarding longevity of sows, sows need to recover their feed intake during lactation as soon as possible after farrowing because lactating sows use more their energy to produce milk than to recover and/or maintain their body condition for next reproduction [17,18]. Due to the energy use of lactating sows, they generally lose their body weight and backfat depth [19,20]. However, the present study showed dietary MCS contributed to less body weight loss of lactating sows because dietary MCS may break down NSPs pigs cannot generally use into available sugars, resulting in improved utilization of nutrients to make more energy.…”