FEEDING NURSERY PIGLETS WITH HIGH MOISTURE CORN ENSILED OR PRESERVED WITH CALCIUM PROPIONATE

Abstract

Food is the component that most increases the cost of pig production. It justifies the studies of ingredients that improve the nutritional value of diets. This study was conducted to evaluate the use of high moisture corn silage or preserved with calcium propionate for weaning pigs. In experiment I (EI) it was used 63 animals (6.8 ± 1.02 to 24.0 ± 2.51 kg) with three treatments: diets based on dry ground corn grains (DGC), diets based on silage with high moisture corn (HMCS), diets based on silage, high moisture corn acidified with 1.2% calcium propionate (HMCS), and six repetitions. In experiment II (EII) it was used 36 pigs (8.3 ± 0.68 to 26.7 ± 1.29 kg) with two treatments: diets based on silage with high moisture corn (HMCS) and diets based on high moisture corn grain preserved with 2.4% calcium propionate (HMCGA) and six repetitions. In EI there was no treatment effect on daily feed intake (DFI). The daily gain (ADG) during the first seven days was lower in piglets fed HMCS compared to those receiving DGC, but in the total period studied there was no difference among treatments. Feed conversion (FC) in the first week of pigs receiving HMCS was worse compared to the others, but in the entire period the animals fed with HMCGS had better FC compared to those fed with DGC. In EII there was no difference in DFI between the treatments. The ADG in the first eight days and in the entire period was lower in piglets fed with HMCGA. FC in the first week did not differ, while in the total period the animals fed with HMCS were more efficient. When compared to DGC, HMCS was of better nutritional value for pigs in total nursery period because there was improvement in FC. There was no benefit in the performance of pigs with the use of calcium propionate as an additive for ensiling process or as a preservative for the preservation of high moisture corn.