Corn Co-products; How Do They Affect the Behavior of Grow-Finish Swine?

Abstract

<p>Byproducts of the ethanol industry have been receiving a great deal of attention as potential ingredients for the swine diet. As byproducts they have the potential to affect air emissions particularly in regards to ammonia emissions. However, limited research has been done regarding diets created with different basal ingredients and their acceptability by the pig and the overall behavior impact they have on the pig. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to compare four different diets for the grow-finish pig in regards to its behavior and postures. Pigs were observed over their grow-finish phase of production, which was comprised of six different dietary formulation phases. Four treatments were compared: distillers dried grains plus solubles (DDGS), dehulled degermed corn (DDC), corn germ meal (CGM), and a traditional corn based diet (CORN). All diets were isocaloric and formulated to NRC recommendations (NRC, 1998). All pigs were recorded for 24 hours post dietary change (5 diet changes, total), and video was scored using a 15 minute scan sampling technique by two experienced observers. Pigs were observed for two behaviors (eating and drinking), two postures (active or inactive), or unknown (which was used when the posture or behavior of the pig could not be determined). Behaviors, postures and unknown for the grow-finisher pig throughout this trial were similar (P > 0.05) across the treatment groups. This is an important finding in so far as if new and different diets are implemented slowly, in this study specifically to aid in the reduction of ammonia and or sulfur outputs, then maintenance related behaviors will not be adversely affected in the grow-finish pig.</p>