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Calcium Chloride as a Regulator of Feed Intake and Weight Gain in Pigs¹

US Department of Agriculture, Clay Center, NE 68933

Abstract

Twenty-one crossbred barrows (average weight 62 kg) were individually fed three diets for 42 days: (1) basal, 14% crude protein fortified corn-soy bean meal; (2) basal + 4% CaCl₂ · 2H₂O + 2.22% Na₅P₃O₁₀, and (3) diet (2) + 2.03% NaHC0₃. Diet 2 suppressed daily feed intake and reduced both weight gain and feed efficiency in pigs. It also caused an increase in plasma Cl concentration and a reduction in blood pH and concentrations of HCO, total CO₂ and base excess. Feed intake and feed efficiency of pigs fed diet 3 were similar to those of pigs fed diet 1. Weight gain of pigs fed diet 3 was higher than that of pigs on diet 2 but lower than that of pigs fed diet 1. Diet 3 produced a higher plasma Cl concentration than diet 1 but a lower concentration than diet 2. However, blood pH and concentrations of HCO, total CO₂ and base excess in pigs fed diet 3 were similar to those in pigs fed diet 1. It is concluded that ingestion of CaCl₂ increases plasma Cl concentration, which exceeds the bicarbonate buffering power capacity and produces a metabolic acidosis, thereby appearing to suppress appetite in pigs.

¹ The authors acknowledge Ronald Lindvall and associates for animal care; Robert Lee, Dale Hill and Dale Janssen for technical assistance, and Debbie Flatter and Peggy Green for stenographic work.

² Roman L. Hruska US Meat Animal Research Center, AR, SEA, Clay Center, NE 68933.

³ Mention of a trade name, proprietary product, vendor or specific equipment does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the USDA and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products or vendors that also may be suitable.