Open AccessHigh inclusion rates of hybrid rye instead of corn in diets for growing-finishing pigs do not influence the overall growth performance and most carcass traits are not influenced by hybrid rye
Author(s) -
Molly L McGhee,
B. N. Harsh,
Hans H Stein
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of animal science/journal of animal science ... and asas reference compendium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.928
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1525-3015
pISSN - 0021-8812
DOI - 10.1093/jas/skab324
Subject(s) - loin , biology , meal , zoology , soybean meal , feed conversion ratio , carcass weight , agronomy , food science , body weight , raw material , ecology , endocrinology
It was hypothesized that hybrid rye may replace corn in diets for growing and finishing pigs without impacting growth performance, carcass characteristics, or meat quality. A total of 128 pigs (23.69 ± 2.51 kg) were allotted to four treatments with eight replicate pens per treatment. Phases 1 and 2 diets were fed for 35 d each and phase 3 diets were fed for 27 d. Within each phase, pigs were fed a control corn and soybean meal diet or a diet in which 33%, 66%, or 100% of the corn in the control diet was replaced with hybrid rye. Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) decreased (linear, P < 0.05) in phase 1 with increased dietary inclusion of hybrid rye. In phase 3, gain:feed (G:F) increased and then decreased (quadratic, P < 0.05) with more hybrid rye in the diet. Overall ADG, ADFI, and G:F did not differ among treatments. Diet did not impact most carcass traits, but loin (visual) and backfat (instrumental L*) color were paler (linear, P < 0.05) with greater inclusion of hybrid rye in the diet. Organ weights increased (linear, P < 0.05) with increased dietary hybrid rye. In conclusion, pigs fed hybrid rye consumed less feed in phase 1, resulting in reduced ADG, but growth performance for the entire growing-finishing period did not differ among treatments. Hybrid rye may replace all the corn in growing and finishing pig diets without diminishing growth performance or carcass quality, but feed intake may be reduced at high inclusion rates.