Determining the nutritional values of new corn varieties on pigs and broilers

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Animal Nutrition
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding techniques are advancing crop development.
• Novel corn varieties, including high-iron, cadmium-resistant, and low-phytate phosphorus corn, have been cultivated.
• Evaluating the nutritional value of these enhanced corn varieties for livestock is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the nutritional value of three novel corn varieties (high-iron, cadmium-resistant, low-phytate phosphorus) in growing pigs and broilers.
• To compare the nutrient digestibility, available energy, amino acids, and mineral deposition of these corn varieties against conventional corn.
• To understand the impact of MAS-bred corn on animal growth performance and environmental factors.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments were conducted: one with growing pigs (15x2 Youden square design) and another with broilers (completely randomized design).
• Diets included high-iron corn, cadmium-resistant corn, low-phytate phosphorus corn, and conventional corn.
• Key parameters measured were nutrient digestibility, available energy, amino acid content, and mineral deposition (e.g., iron, cadmium).

Main Results:

• High-iron corn contained significantly more iron (29.608 mg/kg), and cadmium-resistant corn had higher cadmium levels (0.0057 mg/kg) compared to conventional corn.
• In pigs, high-iron corn reduced neutral detergent fiber digestibility, while high-iron and low-phytate phosphorus corn decreased acid detergent fiber digestibility and digestible energy.
• In broilers, low-phytate phosphorus and high-iron corn resulted in shorter tibia length, and low-phytate phosphorus corn reduced fecal iron excretion.

Conclusions:

• MAS breeding can produce novel corn varieties with specific nutritional enhancements for pig and broiler production.
• While some nutritional parameters were affected, the available energy values of these corn varieties were generally similar to conventional corn.
• The application of these novel corn varieties may offer benefits, particularly for growing pigs, considering growth performance and environmental implications.