Reducing particle size of corn in lactation diets from 1,200 to 400 micrometers improves sow and litter performance.
Wondra K.J. | Hancock J.D. | Kennedy G.A. | Hines R.H. | Behnke K.C.
One hundred primiparous sows were used to determine the effects of particle size of corn in lactation diets on sow and litter performance. The sows were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet with the corn ground to 1,200, 900, 600, or 400 micrometer. Particle size of corn had no influence on sow BW or backfat loss (P > 0.30), subsequent weaning-to-estrus interval (P > 0.40), or percentage of sows returning to estrus (P > 0.09). However, ADFI was increased (linear effect, P < 0.04) as particle size was reduced from 1,200 to 400 microgram. Pig survivability was not affected (P > 0.30) but litter BW gain was increased by 11% when sows were fed diets with 400 vs 1,200 micrometer corn (linear effect, P < 0.05). Apparent digestibilities of DM, N, and GE were increased by 5, 7, and 7%, respectively, as particle size was reduced from 1,200 to 400 micrometer (linear effects, P < 0.001). Intake of DE was increased 14% (13.7 to 15.6 Mcal/d) as corn particle size was reduced from 1,200 to 400 micrometer. Intakes of digestible DM and N also were increased (11 and 14%, respectively), whereas fecal excretions of DM and N were decreased by 21 and 31%, respectively (linear effects, P < 0.001). Reducing particle size increased severity of ulceration and keratinization (nonzero correlations of P < 0.04 and P < 0.004, respectively) in the esophageal region of the stomach, although the changes were not associated with reduced sow performance. In conclusion, our data indicate that the optimum particle size of corn in lactation diets to maximize nutrient intake and litter weight gain in primiparous sows is near 400 micrometer.
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