Effect of alpha-galactosidase supplementation on the energy value of soybean meal and production performance of nursery pigs

Two studies were conducted to determine the effect of supplementing diets with an alpha-galactosidase enzyme complex on the energy value of soybean meal, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients in corn-SBM diets, and production performance of nursery pigs. In Study 1, 40 barrows (9.9 +- 1.9 kg) were randomly allotted to 5 dietary treatments with 8 pigs per diet. A basal diet consisting of 94.89% corn (as-fed basis) and 4 diets containing 70% of the basal diet and 30% (as-fed basis) soybean meal supplemented with 0, 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg of an alpha-1,6-galactosidase enzyme complex were formulated. Pigs were individually penned in metabolism cages that allowed for the total, but separate, collection of urine and fecal material from each pig. Results showed that addition of increasing levels of alpha-1,6-galactosidase enzyme complex increased (linear, P=0.04) DE, tended (linear, P=0.09) to increase ME concentration of soybean meal, and improved (P less than or equal to 0.08) the ATTD of some nutrients in corn-soy diets. In Study 2, 378 pigs (4.5 ± 1.8 kg) were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments. The first is formulated with SBM ME at 3,344 kcal/kg without enzyme addition and the next diet is the same as the first except the addition of 100 mg/kg a-1,6-galactosidase enzyme. The last diet was also supplemented with 100 mg/kg alpha-1,6-galactosidase formulated with SBM ME at 3.644 kcal/kg. Results showed that addition of enzyme improved (P=0.04) total BW gain, tended (P=0.09) to improve ADG of nursery pigs, and caloric efficiencies tended (P=0.10) to be better than those fed diets without enzyme. Thus, it generated more (P=0.04) value of gain per pig, less (P=0.10) feed cost/kg gain, and greater (P=0.06) income over feed cost than the treatment without enzyme supplementation. In conclusion, the enzyme complex improved the energy value of soybean meal and the ATTD of nutrients in corn-soy diets. With this, the enzyme complex can be supplemented to nursery diets to improve production performance coupled with increased profit generation.