Potato Chip Scraps as a Source of Energy in the Diet of Nursery Pigs

Seventy-two pigs (average weight 26.9 lb) were used in an experiment to determine the effect of feeding scrap potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) chips as a source of energy on the performance of nursery pigs (Sus scrofa). Nursery pigs were stratified by sex and weight, and within strata, randomly assigned to three treatments in a randomized complete block design experiment. Each treatment consisted of two pens, each holding 12 pigs. In treatment one (control), 24 pigs were fed a diet consisting of soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] meal and corn (Zea mays L.) supplemented to meet NRC requirements. In treatments two and three, on an as-is basis, 10% and 20% of the corn, respectively, were replaced with 10% and 20% potato chip scraps (PCS). After 10 d of adaptation to the diets and the pens, a performance trial was conducted over 14 d to measure feed intake (FI), total gain (TG), average daily gain (ADG), and gain to feed ratio (G/F) for these pigs. Individual pig weights and pen feed consumption were determined on a weekly basis. The gross energy (GE), ether extract (EE), and Na content of the control diet were numerically lower than the 10% and 20% PCS diets. Total gain (P = 0.24) and ADG (P =0.16) were numerically higher and FI was lower (P = 0.10) for pigs fed PCS vs. the control diet (linear contrast). However, these insignificant (P= 0.16) increases in TG and ADG, and the decrease (P= 0.10) in FI resulted in a linear increase (P<0.01) in G/F for pigs receiving potato chips over the control group. No quadratic effects were noted for any of the variables measured in this study. This experiment demonstrates that PCS can be an effective substitute for corn in the diet of nursery pigs. Research QuestionByproducts of many food manufacturing plants are generally regarded as waste and a financial burden to the producers due to their relatively high disposal cost in public landfills. This, coupled with growing concern over environmental issues and high feed prices, has resulted in the use of many of these byproducts as feed in the livestock industry. The objective of this study was to determine whether potato chip scraps, a byproduct of the potato chip manufacturing industry, could be used as a source of energy to replace corn in the diet of nursery pigs. Literature SummaryLarge quantities of scrapped potato chips are generated annually by potato chip manufacturing companies. Use of crop residues and the food industry as well as other manufacturing byproducts in the diets of livestock is not new. Some information is available regarding the use of dehydrated potato by-product, potato peel, sweet potato processing residue, potato starch, potato proteins, and even edible restaurant waste by livestock. Due to high oil content (around 33%), potato chips have high gross energy and are therefore a good candidate for replacing high energy but more expensive feed ingredients in the diet. Unfortunately, the feeding value of potato chips may also be limited because of high oil and salt (3%) content. No information was found on the use of potato chip scraps as a source of energy for young pigs. This experiment is therefore designed to determine the effect of two levels (10 and 20%) of potato chip scraps on (i) feed intake, (ii) total weight gain, (iii) average daily gain, and (iv) gain to feed ratio for nursery pigs. Study DescriptionSeventy-two Yorkshire × Landrace nursery pigs were used in an experiment to determine the effect of feeding two levels of scrap potato chips as a source of energy on performance of nursery pigs. Nursery pigs were assigned to three treatments. In treatment one, pigs were fed a diet consisting of soybean meal and corn supplemented with vitamins and minerals. In treatments two and three, 10% and 20% (as-is basis) of the corn was replaced with 10% and 20% of scrapped potato chips, respectively. Pigs had free access to feed and water at all times. After 10 d of adaptation to the diets and the pens, a performance trial was conducted over 14 d to measure feed intake, total gain, average daily gain, and gain to feed ratio for these pigs. Applied QuestionsWhat was the effect of different levels of potato chip scraps on the nutrient content of the diets? Substitution of potato chip scraps for corn resulted in a numerical increase in the DM, ash, Na, EE, and GE and a decrease in the CP and NDF content of the diet. How was the animal performance affected by the substitution of potato chip scraps? There was no effect on total GE intake, total gain, and ADG due to the substitution of potato chip scrap for corn in the diets. However, feed consumption tended to decrease and gain to feed ratio for pigs consuming potato chip scraps was improved over the control diet significantly. RecommendationsThis study indicates that potato chip scraps in up to 20% of the diet can be safely fed to nursery pigs without any ill effects and with some improvement in the performance of the animals.