The effect of a new complex sorbent of mycotoxins in pigs diets on their growth performance, fattening and meat traits

Compliance with feed safety in livestock production requires pork producers to add mycotoxin-binding adsorbents to pig diets. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of two complex sorbents added to the diet of fattening pigs on their performance. The experiment included 90 pigs, which were kept in LLC “Tavriyski svyni” in the Kherson region. According to the principle of analogues, experimental animals were divided into three groups of 30 animals each: I – the control group of pigs consumed the basic diet “Grower”, and “Finisher”; pigs of experimental group II consumed the basic diet “Grower”, “Finisher” with the addition of 0.15% by weight of feed of a commercial analogue of mycotoxin adsorbent; animals of experimental group III received the basic diet “Grower”, “Finisher” with the addition of 0.15% by weight of feed of the complex preparation “Hepasorbex”. Animals that consumed feed containing adsorbents of mycotoxins had a higher live body weight, and average daily weight gain, reaching weights of 100 and 120 kg with lower feed conversion earlier compared to analogues of a control group. It was found that the introduction of “Gepasorbex” in the diet of store pigs of experimental group III at a pre-slaughter weight of 100 and 120 kg resulted in an increase in: slaughter yield, half-carcass length, muscle eye area, the weight of the hind third of the half-carcass and a decrease in the thickness of the fat compared to the control group. In terms of chemical composition, the meat of animals of experimental groups, both at slaughter in 100 kg and in 120 kg, met the requirements for pork of normal quality (NORMAL). At a live weight of 100 and 120 kg, pigs of experimental group III had significantly lower moisture content, higher protein, fat and ash content in meat. Due to the complex composition of “Gepasorbex” ingredients, the nutrients in the feed remained and were absorbed by the pig’s body, which is confirmed by higher productivity indicators and significantly reduces the cost of the main expense item of pig farms in pig production technologies – “Feed”. Therefore, this research is useful for specialists in pork production and processing in developing strategies for feeding pigs and obtaining quality raw materials for processing enterprises, which opens up ways to ensure food security in the country