Effect of dietary fat source and level on the performance of neonatal and early weaned pigs

The effect of dietary fat source in liquid, semipurified diets was studied with 22 Yorkshire pigs. The four treatment groups were fed diets containing 32% butterfat, corn oil, coconut oil or lard on a dry matter basis. Pigs were delivered by Cesarean section and maintained under pathogen-free conditions. Gain and efficiency of feed use were greater (P less than .05) for pigs fed coconut oil than for pigs fed corn oil or lard. In a second trial, choice white grease was added to a starter diet at levels of 0, 4, 8 and 12%. Individual performance of 68 early-weaned (about 27 d of age) Yorkshire pigs was monitored for 35 d. Levels of corn and soybean meal were altered to maintain a constant ratio of other nutrients to digestible energy. Feed intake decreased as fat level increased (linear effect, P less than .004). Gains the first 2 wk also decreased linearly with fat level (P less than .06). Efficiency of feed use was not significantly affected by dietary fat level, but efficiency of use of calculated digestible energy tended to decrease (P less than .07) with added fat.