Nutrient value of spray field forages fed to pigs and the use of feed enzymes to enhance nutrient digestibility

Abstract

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.

Benefits of a commercial solid-state fermentation (SSF) product on growth performance, feed efficiency and gut morphology of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed different UK lupin meal cultivars

“…Galactosidase has been reported as secreted by A. niger during solid-state fermentation of wheat bran (Passos et al, 2015), thus there is a strong possibility of such occurrences during this study. In the present study with tilapia, the Synergen TM product used is a natural solid-state fermentation complex of Aspergillus niger that contains residual enzyme activity as described by Diógenes et al (2018).…”

Friend or Foe? Impacts of Dietary Xylans, Xylooligosaccharides, and Xylanases on Intestinal Health and Growth Performance of Monogastric Animals

“…Common cereal grains and related coproducts used in the feeding of livestock contain variable amounts of NSP. Non-starch polysaccharides have been shown to increase digesta viscosity within the small intestines, resulting in depressed absorption and digestibility of nutrients [21][22][23][24]. In addition, increased digesta viscosity has been linked to an increase in the pathogenic load within the small intestine which could result in an increased level of oxidative stress as well as inflammatory responses in the small intestine of nursery pigs [23,24].…”

Editorial: Nutritional Intervention for the Intestinal Health of Young Monogastric Animals

“…As potential alternatives to AGPs, different dietary fibers (DF), prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, enzymes, and others have been evaluated and found to have promising outcomes (Zheng et al). Although DF are not well-digested and are often considered as anti-nutritional factors in monogastric animals, as it reduces nutrient utilization (20), it has been widely used in recent years to modulate the intestinal environment (4). DFs are fermented in the intestine and become short-chain fatty acids, stimulating the growth of health-promoting gut bacteria, and boosting the immune system [(21); (Jha, Fouhse et al)].…”