Additivity of digestible energy and nutrient concentrations in hatchery byproducts fed to nursery pigs

Objective: The objective was to test additivity of digestible energy and nutrient concentrations in the hatchery byproduct mixture fed to nursery pigs. Methods: In the previous studies, energy, phosphorus, calcium, and amino acid digestibility of infertile eggs, unhatched eggs, culled chicks, and a mixture of 3 hatchery byproduct ingredients was determined in nursery pigs (initial body weight = 9.4 to 14.2 kg). An additivity test was conducted using these determined values. Results: No difference was observed between determined and predicted metabolizable energy values in the mixture (3,998 and 3,990 kcal/kg as-is basis, respectively). Measured standardized total tract digestible phosphorus in the mixture was less than the predicted value (4.5 vs 5.3 g/kg as-is basis, respectively; p<0.05). Measured standardized total tract digestible calcium in the mixture was greater compared with the predicted value (40.0 vs 31.7 g/kg as-is basis, respectively; p<0.05). Measured standardized ileal digestible tryptophan in the mixture was greater than the predicted value (3.7 vs 3.1 g/kg as-is basis, respectively; p<0.05) whereas other amino acid values were additive. Conclusion: Energy and most of amino acid concentrations in hatchery byproducts are additive in the mixture fed to nursery pigs.

Automated summary

The objective of this study was to test the additivity of energy and nutrient concentrations in a hatchery byproduct mixture fed to nursery pigs. The results showed that most amino acids were additive in the mixture, but phosphorus and calcium concentrations differed from the predicted values. These findings provide important insights for the feeding of nursery pigs.