HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jensen, A. H. Articles by Becker, D. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jensen, A. H. Articles by Becker, D. E.

Effect of Pelleting Diets and Dietary Components on the Performance of Young Pigs

Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, Urbana

Abstract

Five experiments involving 228 crossbred pigs weaned at 2 to 3 weeks of age were conducted. The effects of pelleting a diet or its cereal component upon its utilization were evaluated.

There were no significant effects on rate of gain. Daily feed intake was variably affected, with no definite trends established. Extreme hardness of the pellet, or the powdery texture sometimes resulting from grinding the pellet (with either a hammermill or roller-grinder), reduced voluntary feed intake particularly for the first few days.

In four of the five trials pelleting resulted in a higher gain-feed ratio. Pooled data of the five trials showed this difference to be significant.

Pelleting and regrinding the cereal (corn or wheat) portion prior to mixing in the diet gave results similar to pelleting the mixed diet. Proximate analysis of corn samples taken prior to and after pelleting showed that pelleting resulted in significantly less crude fiber and significantly more total nitrogen. Enzymatic digestion of the above samples indicated that pelleting had rendered the starch fraction of corn more susceptible to enzyme action.

¹ The authors express appreciation to R. J. Smith, Corn Products Refining Company, Argo, Illinois, for the enzyme digestion determinations.