S. Ching and D. C. Mahan1
The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences
Abstract
The young weanling pig becomes energy deficient upon weaning because of low feed (energy) intakes. The effects of adding a carbohydrate and/or oil-seed lipids as sources of energy were therefore evaluated in weanling pigs to determine if there was a different postweaning performance responses from the 2 energy sources. The study conducted was a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments where 3 levels of lactose (0, 15, 30%) and 3 levels of soybean oil (0, 5, 10%) were evaluated with weanling pigs. The trial used a total of 342 crossbred pigs that were weaned at 17-day of age and averaged body weight of 6.2 kg. Diets were provided ad libitum for the 35-day trial. Pigs were bled at 14 and 35-day postweaning and the serum analyzed for triglyceride and serum urea nitrogen. The results demonstrated that dietary lactose improved pig gains, feed intakes, and feed efficiencies throughout the trial, but the responses were more pronounced during the 15 to 35-day period. Dietary soybean oil improved gain during the 0 to 14-day period but not during the later period, whereas feed efficiency was improved when the oil was fed throughout the 35-day trial. Urea nitrogen declined when soybean oil level increased at both 14 and 35-days postweaning suggesting improved amino acid utilization. Serum triglyceride increased when soybean oil and lactose level increased, but the response was significant only when the oil was added to the diets. These results indicate that both dietary lactose and soybean oil have a mutually beneficial effect on pig growth performance and body muscle and fat deposition during the postweaning period.