Effect of Dietary Sugar Beet Pulp Supplementation on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Fecal Microflora, Blood Profiles and Diarrhea Incidence in Weaning Pigs

Abstract

Abstract : This experiment was conducted to evaluate an adequate the level of sugar beet pulp as an alternative ZnO supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, blood profiles and incidence of diarrhea in weaning pigs. A total of 200 weaning pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc], averaging 9.01 ± 1.389 kg of initial body weight were, allotted to 5 treatments in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. Each treatment composed of 4 replicates with 10 pigs per pen. The treatments were control treatment: Corn-SBM basal diet + ZnO (phase 1: 0.05%

phase 2

0.03%) and four different levels of SBP was supplemented in Corn-SBM basal diet (3, 6, 9 or 12 %). Two phage feeding programs (phase 1: 1-2 weeks

phase 2: 3-5 weeks) were used for 5 week of growth trial. In growth trial, there were no significant difference in growth performance and incidence of diarrhea among treatments. The E. coli counts were not significantly different among dietary treatments but linear response was observed in Lactobacillus counts as sugar beet pulp supplementation increased (P < 0.05). In addition, IGF-1, IgA and IgG were not affected by dietary treatments. However, the BUN concentration was decreased when pigs were fed the treatments of diets with SBP compared to that of control treatment (P < 0.05). In nutrient digestibility, crude fiber and NDF digestibilities was improved as the sugar beet pulp increased (P < 0.05). However, digestibilities of crude ash, crude fat, crude fiber and nitrogen retention were not affected by dietary sugar beet pulp levels. Consequently, this experiment demonstrated that sugar beet pulp can be supplemented in weaning pigs diet instead of ZnO to prevent postweaning diarrhea without any detrimental effect on growth performance.