Various levels of milk by-products in weaning pig diet on growth performance, blood profiles, carcass characteristics and economic analysis

It is well known that lactose and whey powder were used as the main raw materials in weaning pig diet due to the fact that supplementation of milk by-products in weaning pig diet helped maintaining an enhanced intestinal environment in pig. Moreover, increasing of growth and enhancing feed intake of weaning pigs by supplementation of milk by-products has been known widely in weaning pigs’ diet. However, high levels of dietary milk byproducts induced the increment of feed cost, resulted in a great burden for swine producers. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate various levels of milk by-products in weaning pig diet on growth performance, blood profiles thereafter later growth, carcass characteristics and economic analysis of finishing pigs to figure out carry-over effect.

A total of 160 weaning pigs ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc), average 7.01 ± 1.32 kg BW, were allotted to one of four treatments by BW and sex in 10 replications with 4 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. Pigs were fed each treatment diet with various levels of milk by-products (Phase 1: 0, 10, 20 and 30%, Phase 2 : 0, 5 10 and 15%), respectively. Six phase feeding programs were used in the whole experimental period. Blood profiles and meat quality were evaluated. Economic analysis was calculated using amount of the total feed intake and feed price. Data was analyzed by using the GLM procedure of SAS.

In feeding trial, BW, ADG and ADFI of weaning pigs were declined as low levels of milk by-products diets were provided, resulting in linear response (P< 0.05). However, improved growth response by high dietary milk by-products were disappeared in growing and finishing phases and significant difference was not observed among treatments at the end of experiment. The BUN concentration, IgA and IgG had no significant differences among dietary treatments. Pork color, pH and proximate analysis of longissimus muscle did not show differences among treatments. When pigs were fed no milk byproducts treatment diet during weaning period, feed cost to 110 kg of market weight was decreased approximately 11% compared to high milk by-products treatment.

Various levels of dietary milk by-products in weaning pig’s diet influenced on BW, ADFI and ADG in weaning pig period but subsequent growth performance of growing-finishing pig was not affected by dietary treatments. When lower level of milk by-products was supplemented in weaning pig’s diet, feed cost was decreased without any negative effect in growth performance during weaning to finishing period.

Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.