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Performance of growing-finishing pigs fed diets containing YieldGard Rootworm corn (MON 863), a nontransgenic genetically similar corn, or conventional corn hybrids

Y. Hyun^*, G. E. Bressner^*, R. L. Fischer, P. S. Miller, M. Ellis^*,1, B. A. Peterson^*, E. P. Stanisiewski and G. F. Hartnell

^* Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801; and Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 68583; and and Monsanto Co., St. Louis, MO 63167

	Abstract

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Two studies were conducted at two locations to evaluate growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs fed diets containing either YieldGard Rootworm corn (MON 863), a non-transgenic genetically similar corn (RX670), or two conventional nontransgenic corn hybrids (DK647 and RX740). A randomized complete block design with a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments (two genders and four corn hybrids) was used. Study 1 used 72 barrows and 72 gilts (progeny of Danbred sires x [Danbred x NE White line] dams grown from 22.7 to 117.0 kg BW). Pigs were housed in a modified open-front building in single-gender groups of six (six pens per dietary treatment). Study 2 used 80 barrows and 80 gilts (progeny of PIC 337 sires x C22 dams) grown from 29.5 to 114.9 kg BW. Pigs were housed in an environmentally controlled finishing building in single-gender groups of five (eight pens per dietary treatment). The test corns were included at a fixed proportion of the diet in both studies. Animals had ad libitum access to feed and water. Pigs were slaughtered at the end of the growth period using standard procedures, and carcass measurements were taken. There were no diet x gender interactions for growth performance or carcass measurements in either study. In both studies, overall ADG, ADFI, and G:F were not affected by corn hybrid. There was no effect of corn hybrid on carcass or LM quality measurements in Study 1. In Study 2, LM protein content was less (P< 0.05) for pigs fed RX740 compared with those fed either MON 863 or RX670; however, there was no effect of corn hybrid on other LM composition measures or on quality traits. In both studies, differences between barrows and gilts for growth and carcass traits were similar to previous research. These results suggest that the YieldGard Rootworm corn (MON 863) results in equivalent growth performance and carcass quality to nontransgenic corn hybrids in growing-finishing pigs.

Key Words: Carcass • Growth • Insect-Protected Corn • Pigs

	Introduction

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The development of insect-protected corn expressing the Cry 3Bbl protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) confers resistance against corn rootworm and has great potential to decrease pesticide use (Alston et al., 2002; Rice, 2004). Following a single acute exposure, Cry proteins bind to specific receptors in the midgut cells of susceptible insects and form ion-selective channels in the cell membrane (English and Slatin, 1992). The cells swell due to an influx of water, which leads to cell lysis; the insect then stops eating and dies (Knowles and Ellar, 1987). YieldGard Rootworm corn (MON 863) produces an AA sequence variant of the wild-type Cry 3Bb1 protein, which targets against feeding damage caused by corn rootworm larvae (Diabrotica sp.). Previous research has demonstrated that insect-protected corn containing the Bt trait expressing Cry protein (MON 810) was equivalent to the genetically related non-transgenic corn in terms of nutrient composition (Gaines et al., 2001), growth performance of weaned piglets (Piva et al., 2001), and growth performance and carcass quality in growing-finishing pigs (Weber and Richert, 2001) and broilers (Taylor et al., 2003a,b,c). There has been no research to determine the feeding value of the YieldGard Rootworm corn (MON 863) for growing-finishing pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate growth performance and carcass quality in growing-finishing pigs when fed diets containing either YieldGard Rootworm corn (MON 863), a genetically similar nontransgenic corn, or nontransgenic commercial corn hybrids.

	Materials and Methods

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Two studies were carried out at different locations. Study 1 was at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), and Study 2 was at the University of Illinois (Urbana). Experimental protocols were approved by the respective institutional animal care and use committees before the start of the studies.

Animals and Treatments

In Study 1, 144 crossbred pigs (progeny of Danbred sire x [Danbred x NE White line] dam; 72 barrows and 72 gilts) with an initial BW of 22.7 ± 1.57 kg were used, and in Study 2, 160 pigs (progeny of PIC 337 sires x C22 dams; Franklin, KY; 80 barrows and 80 gilts) with an initial BW of 29.5 ± 1.21 kg were used.

A randomized complete block design (three and four blocks in Studies 1 and 2, respectively), with a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments, was used. Blocks were based on initial BW and pen location within the building. There were two genders (barrows and gilts) and four genetic corn hybrids (YieldGard Rootworm corn [MON 863]), the nontransgenic genetically similar control corn (RX670), and two nontransgenic commercial reference hybrids (DK647, DeKalb Seeds, DeKalb, IA; RX740, Asgrow, Des Moines, IA). The test, control, and reference corn hybrids were grown, harvested, and stored in Nebraska for Study 1 and in Illinois for Study 2.

The composition of the corns is presented in Table 1. Diets contained corn, soybean meal, and wheat middlings (Study 2), and were fortified with vitamins and minerals to meet or exceed NRC (1998) requirements for the weights of pigs used. In Study 1, there were four dietary phases (Grower I, 22.7 to 43.5 kg BW; Grower II, 43.5 to 69.3 kg BW; Finisher I, 69.3 to 98.0 kg BW; and Finisher II, 98.0 to 117.2 kg BW), and the inclusion rate of the corn was fixed within each phase (68.65, 74.79, 78.66, and 82.47% for Grower I, Grower II, Finisher I, and Finisher II, respectively; Tables 2 and 3). Within each dietary phase, diets were formulated with a fixed ingredient inclusion rate (Tables 2 and 3). In Study 2, there were three dietary phases (Grower, 29.5 to 50.2 kg BW; Finisher I, 50.2 to 77.5 kg BW; and Finisher II, 77.5 to 114.9 kg BW), and the inclusion rate of the corn hybrids was fixed within each phase (65, 72, and 76% for Grower, Finisher I, and Finisher II, respectively; Table 4). Within each phase, diets were formulated to the same (as-fed basis) ME, CP, and total lysine concentrations (Grower = 3,340 kcal of ME/kg, 17.8% CP, 1.0% total lysine; Finisher I = 3,368 kcal of ME/kg, 15.0% CP, 0.79% total lysine; Finisher II = 3,390 kcal/kg ME, 13.5% CP, 0.69% total lysine). Analyzed values were used for the lysine content of the corn. The ME values for the corn were based on the value presented in NRC (1998), adjusted to account for the differences in DM content among the different types of corn (Table 1). All other nutrient composition values used in the diet formulations were from NRC (1998). Wheat middlings and soybean oil were used in the diet formulations in Study 2 to adjust the energy content of the diets. Study 1 was carried out for a fixed time period of 104 d, with the first three phases lasting 28 d, and the final phase lasting 20 d. Study 2 was carried out over a fixed weight range, and diets were changed between phases when the average BW of all pigs in a block reached the designated weight.

Pigs had ad libitum access to mash feed and water throughout the experimental period. Study 1 ended after 104 d, and Study 2 ended when the average BW of all of the pens of pigs within a block reached approximately 115 kg, at which time all pigs in the block were removed from the experiment.

Data and Sample Collection

In both studies, pigs and feeders were weighed and feed intake was measured during every feeding phase throughout the study, and the amount of feed added to each feeder was recorded to determine ADG, ADFI (as-fed basis), and G:F. At the end of the experiment, all pigs were ultrasonically scanned with an Aloka model 500 B-mode ultrasound scanner fitted with a VST-5021-3 probe (Corometrics Medical Systems, Wallingford, CT). A transverse scan image was taken over the 10th rib, and backfat depth (over the middle of the LM) and LM area were measured on the scans.

At the end of the experiment, the pigs from the two studies were shipped to different commercial abattoirs and slaughtered using standard procedures. Carcass measurements were taken at 24 h postmortem in Study 1 and included midline fat depths (over the first rib, 10th rib, last rib, and last lumbar vertebra) and LM area at the 10th rib using a tracing method. In Study 2, carcass measurements were taken at 10 h postmortem and included carcass length (measured from the cranial tip of the aitch bone to the cranial edge of the first rib adjacent to the first thoracic vertebra), midline fat depths (over the first rib, last rib, and last lumbar vertebra), 10th-rib fat depth (measured over the LM at three-quarters of the distance from the midline), and LM area at the 10th rib using a plastic grid for quick measurement of LM area (Iowa State University, Ames). In Study 1, fat-free lean content (at 0% fat content) was predicted from carcass measurements using equations developed by the NPPC (2000). Initial fat-free lean content (at 0% fat content) was calculated using an equation from the NPPC (1991). In both studies, fat-free lean contents (at 0% fat content) were predicted from ultrasound measurements using the equation from the NPPC (2000).

In Study 1, muscle quality measurements were taken 24 h postmortem on the cut surface of the LM at the 10th rib and included pH, firmness, marbling scores (NPPC, 1991), and Minolta L* (lightness), a* (red-green scale), and b* (yellow-blue scale) values. In Study 2, subjective color, firmness, and marbling scores (NPPC, 1991, 2000) were taken.

In both studies, the chemical composition of the LM was determined on a sample taken at the 10th rib from a subsample of three pigs randomly selected from within each pen (18 pigs per treatment in Study 1 and 24 pigs per treatment in Study 2).

Sample Analyses

Samples from each corn hybrid were collected before the start of the experiment for nutrient analyses (Table 1). In addition, samples of soybean meal (Study 1 and 2) and wheat middlings (Study 2) were collected at the feed mill during the production of each dietary phase. These were used for the determination of CP and AA concentrations. These values for the nutrient composition of the major ingredients were used to calculate the composition of the diets fed (Tables 2, 3, and 4). Corn and soybean meal samples were ground to pass a 1-mm screen before analysis. Ingredients samples were analyzed in duplicate for CP according to AOAC (1995) procedures. Samples were hydrolyzed for 20 h using 6 N HCl at 107°C before separation of AA by ion-exchange HPLC. After elution, AA were quantified fluorometrically using o-phthalaldehyde as a derivatization reagent. Diet samples were taken after mixing, and the chemical composition of diets including CP, fat, Ca, and P was determined using the procedures of AOAC (1995). Longissimus muscle samples were homogenized and analyzed for protein, fat, and moisture using the procedures of Novakofski et al. (1989).

Statistical Analyses

Pen was the experimental unit in both studies. All growth performance, carcass, meat quality, and chemical composition data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using PROC MIXED procedures of SAS (SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, NC). The effects included in the model were gender (barrow and gilts), corn hybrid (MON 863, RX670, DK647, and RX740), block, and gender x corn hybrid interaction. Means were evaluated using the PDIFF and STDERR options of SAS.

	Results and Discussion

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Nutrient Composition

The nutrient composition for the corn hybrids used in both studies is presented in Table 1. In Study 1, the YieldGard Rootworm corn (MON 863), and the non-transgenic corn hybrids (RX670, DK647, and RX740) were generally similar in nutrient composition. In Study 2, there was considerable variation in the composition of the corns, particularly for DM content, which was greater for MON863 and RX670 than for DK647 and RX740 (Table 1). Values for the nutrient composition of all of the corns used in the study were within the normal ranges of values for corn in the Crop Composition Database of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI, 2003).

Growth Performance

There was no diet x gender interaction for any growth performance measurement in either study, and only the main effects have been presented. In Study 1, ADG, ADFI, and G:F were not affected by corn hybrid during any of the four growth phases (Table 5). In Study 2, the only effect (P < 0.05) of corn hybrid was on ADG in Finisher I and on G:F in the Finisher I and Finisher II phases (Table 6). Pigs fed DK647 grew faster (P < 0.05) than those fed MON 863 and RX670 in Finisher I, with those fed RX740 being intermediate and not different from the other hybrids for growth rate in this phase. The G:F was greater (P < 0.05) for hybrids DK647 and RX740, than for MON 863 in Finisher I, with hybrid RX670 being intermediate (Table 6). In Finisher II, G:F was higher (P < 0.05) for hybrids RX670 and RX740 than for the other two hybrids; however, there was no effect (P = 0.114 for ADG; P = 0.389 for ADFI; P = 0.208 for G:F) of corn hybrid on overall growth performance (Table 6). Thus, in both studies, the performance by pigs fed the transgenic corn hybrid did not differ from that by those fed the nontransgenic genetically similar corn or the two conventional hybrids.

Carcass and Ultrasound Measurements

There was no diet x gender interaction for any carcass and ultrasound measurement in either study. In Study 1, all carcass and ultrasound measurements did not differ for pigs fed the YieldGard Rootworm corn (MON 863) compared with the nontransgenic corn (RX670), and the nontransgenic commercial corn hybrids (DK647 and RX740) (Table 7). In Study 2 (Table 8), all carcass measurements, with the exception of carcass length and backfat thickness over the 10th-rib, did not differ (P = 0.214 and 0.349 for first rib backfat and last lumbar backfat, respectively) for pigs fed the four corn hybrids tested. Pigs fed hybrid RX670 had shorter carcass lengths (P < 0.05) than those fed the other three hybrids; however, the treatment differences were relatively small. In addition, pigs fed DK647 had less backfat at the 10th-rib than those fed RX740, with those fed the MON 863 and RX670 being intermediate and not different than the two conventional hybrids. This difference in fatness among the corn hybrids was unexpected, particularly given that there was no difference between the corn treatments for overall growth performance. Moreover, ultrasound measures of backfat thickness and LM area did not differ in pigs fed diets containing the different corn hybrids in either study (Tables 7 and 8).

Longissimus Muscle Chemical Composition and Quality

There was no diet x gender interaction (P < 0.05) for muscle quality and chemical composition in either study. In Study 1, there was no effect of corn hybrid on any muscle quality or composition measure (Table 9). In Study 2, the only effect of corn hybrid was for LM protein content, which was greater for pigs fed RX670 than for the two conventional corns (Table 9). In addition, pigs fed the transgenic corn (MON 863) had higher muscle protein than those fed one of the conventional corn hybrids (RX740). Thus, there was no evidence from either study of any negative effect of the transgenic corn hybrid on LM quality or chemical composition measurements.

There was no evidence from these two studies of any negative effect of the YieldGard Rootworm corn (MON 863) on either growth performance or carcass and pork quality measurements compared with nontransgenic corn (RX670) and conventional commercial corn hybrids (DK647 and RX740). These findings are similar to results of Stanisiewski et al. (2001) and Hyun et al. (2004) for transgenic Roundup Ready corn (GA21 and NK 603, respectively) and Gaines et al. (2001), Piva et al. (2001), and Weber and Richert (2001) for transgenic-insect–protected YieldGard Corn Borer (MON 810) compared with nontransgenic conventional corn hybrids in pigs.

	Implications

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These studies demonstrated that the feeding value of YieldGard Rootworm corn (containing event MON 863 which expresses the Cry 3Bb1 protein) did not differ from that of the nontransgenic control corn and the nontransgenic commercial reference corn hybrids tested. Therefore, YieldGard Rootworm corn (MON 863), when used in diets for growing-finishing swine, would be expected to have effects on growth performance and carcass characteristics comparable to those with nontransgenic conventional corn.

¹ Correspondence: 216 Animal Sciences Laboratory, 1207 W. Gregory Dr. (phone: 217-333-6455; fax: 217-333-7861; e-mail: mellis7{at}uiuc.edu).

Received for publication June 16, 2004. Accepted for publication March 16, 2005.

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