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Comparison of Wheat and Grain Sorghum for Growing-Finishing Swine^{1, 2,}

Oklahoma Agriculture Experiment Station, Stillwater 74074

Abstract

THREE experiments were conducted using 932 pigs to compare the feeding value of hard red winter wheat and grain sorghum for growing-finishing swine. Studies included a comparison on both a weight and an isonitrogenous basis, different levels of lysine supplementation to the wheat rations, and the feeding of both grains in either a ground or pelleted form. In Experiment 1, wheat tended to support similar gains to grain sorghum especially when supplemented with an equal level of soybean meal. However, significantly less efficient gains were observed when wheat was substituted for grain sorghum either by weight or on an isonitrogenous basis.

In Experiment 2, the supplementation of L-lysine or additional soybean meal to increase the lysine level of wheat rations to 0.60%, or higher, improved average daily gains. A level of 0.60% lysine was as effective as 0.70% as measured by rate of gain for pigs fed wheat rations. No significant differences were noted in feed efficiency between pigs fed any of the rations.

In Experiment 3, no significant differences in gain or feed efficiency were noted between wheat and grain sorghum fed pigs. Pelleting produced essentially the same improvement in gain and feed efficiency in pigs fed wheat rations as was observed in those fed grain sorghum rations. Average improvement observed from pelleting was approximately 7% for daily gain and 10% for feed efficiency. Probed backfat thickness was similar for grain sorghum and wheat fed pigs in all three experiments.

It would appear that the choice between feeding wheat and feeding grain sorghum to growing-finishing swine may be largely a question of economics.

¹ Journal Article 2417 of the Agriculture Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. Research conducted by the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry in cooperation with the Animal Science Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S.D.A.

² Acknowledgement is made to the Oklahoma Pork Commission for financial support and to Merck and Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, for supplying the L-lysine.

³ Present address: Kansas Extension Service, Newton.