2002 National ASAS meeting

Use of a natural carbon-mineral supplement in swine diets: effects on pig growth

Kim, S. W., F. Ji., and J. J. McGlone

Texas Tech University

A natural, carbon-mineral source (NCM) is a feed supplement that is mined and minimally processed (Promax^®, HumaTech, Inc., Houston, TX). Carbon compounds include humic acid, fulvic acid, and other organic compounds and minerals include bioavailable iron and other trace minerals. Use of NCM in swine diets is a relatively new concept. One hundred twenty pigs, weaned at d 21 of age, were used to determine the effect of NCM on growth performance of pigs from the nursery to growing period. At weaning, pigs were allotted to one of three treatments. Treatments were control, 0.5% NCM supplementation, and 1.0% NCM supplementation. Each treatment had eight replications and each pen-replicate had five pigs. During the nursery period, pigs were fed based on a three-phase feeding program. Phase 1 was the one week postweaning, phase 2 was the two weeks after phase 1, and phase 3 was another two weeks after phase 2. Body weight and feed intake were measured weekly. All pigs had free access to diets and water. After a 5 wk nursery period, pigs were moved to a grower facility and two pen-replicates were combined to 4 pen-replicates per treatment. Body weight and feed intake were measured twice during the growing period. Two-phase feeding program was applied to growing pigs. Phase 4 was 48 d after phase 3 and phase 5 was another 15 d after phase 4 until pigs reached 60 kg body weight. There was no difference in average daily gain and feed intake during the phase 1 and 2. However, pigs fed a diet containing 0.5% NCM had a greater (P < 0.05) ADG during phase 3 than pigs in other treatments. Average daily feed intake was the same among treatments during phase 3. Gain/feed was greater (P < 0.05) in pigs fed a diet containing 0.5% NCM than other treatments during phase 3. There was no difference in average daily gain of pigs among treatment during phase 4 and 5. However, pigs fed the control diet consumed a greater (P < 0.05) amount of feed during phase 5 than pigs in other treatments. Gain/feed was greater (P < 0.05) in pigs fed a diet containing 0.5% NCM during phase 5 than pigs fed the control diet. This study demonstrated that supplementing NCM at 0.5% level may improve ADG during the late nursery period and efficiency during the late growing period. Further evaluations are required over longer periods.

Key Word: Pigs, Natural carbon mineral, Growth performance