Decreasing corn particle size increases energy and nitrogen digestibility in gestating sows

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Swine Nutrition
• Digestive Physiology

Background:

• Previous research indicates reduced corn particle size enhances metabolizable energy (ME) utilization in swine.
• Gestation sow diets have limited research regarding the impact of corn particle size on nutrient digestibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of corn particle size on crude protein (CP) digestibility, digestible energy (DE), ME, and nitrogen-adjusted metabolizable energy (AMEn) in gestating sows.
• To determine the optimal corn particle size for gestating sow diets.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-seven sows in mid-gestation were fed diets with corn ground to 400, 800, or 1200 µm geometric mean diameter.
• Titanium dioxide was used as an indigestible marker for digestibility calculations.
• Diets were fed for 7 days followed by a 2-day collection period for analysis.

Main Results:

• Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of CP, DE, ME, and AMEn increased linearly (P < 0.001) as corn particle size decreased.
• ME and AMEn increased by 178 and 172 kcal/kg, respectively, for every 100 µm decrease in particle size.
• A significant improvement in nutrient utilization was observed with finer corn particle sizes.

Conclusions:

• Reducing corn particle size to 400 µm positively impacts nutrient digestibility and energy utilization in gestating sows.
• Finer corn particle size is beneficial for improving the nutritional value of gestating sow diets.
• Further research can optimize particle size for specific production phases.