title: Effect of irradiation of individual feed ingredients and the complete diet on nursery pig performance.
abstract: A total of 1,210 nursery pigs was used in two experiments to evaluate the effects of irradiation of typical nursery diet ingredients, specialty protein products, and the whole diet on nursery pig performance. In Exp. 1, 880 barrows and gilts (15 +/- 2 d of age at weaning) were used in two growth trials (14 d and 12 d for Trials 1 and 2, respectively) to determine the effects of individual ingredient and whole-diet irradiation on nursery pig performance. Overall (d 0 to 14 of Trial 1 and d 0 to 12 of Trial 2), ADG was greater (P < 0.05) for pigs fed irradiated animal plasma compared with pigs fed the control, the diet containing irradiated microingredients, and the diet that was manufactured and irradiated. Also, pigs fed irradiated soybean meal had greater (P < 0.05) ADFI compared with pigs fed the manufactured diet that was irradiated. Pigs fed the diet containing irradiated animal plasma had improved feed efficiency (G:F; P < 0.05) compared with those fed the diet with irradiated microingredients and when all ingredients were irradiated before manufacturing of complete feed. Finally, pigs fed irradiated corn, whey, fishmeal, soybean oil, microingredients, or if all ingredients or the whole diet were irradiated, had similar ADG, ADFI, and G:F (P > 0.12) to control pigs. In Exp. 2, 330 nursery pigs (20 +/- 2 d of age at weaning) were used to determine the effects of irradiation of commercially available specialty protein products in diets for nursery pigs. Overall, ADG was greater (P < 0.05) when pigs were fed diets containing nonirradiated spray-dried animal plasma and egg combination (SDAPE) and dried porcine digest (DPD) compared with pigs fed the control diet containing no specialty protein products. In addition, G:F was improved (P < 0.05) when pigs were fed diets containing nonirradiated SDAPE, DPD, spray-dried beef muscle (SDBM), and spray-dried whole egg (SDWE) compared with pigs fed the control diet. Pigs fed irradiated SDAPE and SDBM had greater (P < 0.05) ADG than pigs fed the nonirradiated forms. Pigs fed irradiated SDBM had improved (P < 0.05) G:F compared with pigs fed the nonirradiated form. In Exp. 1 and 2, an irradiation treatment level of 8.5 kGy was effective in reducing the total bacterial concentration of all ingredients evaluated, as well as the whole diet in Exp.1. Irradiation of certain ingredients, but not the complete diet, increased growth performance of nursery pigs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-0201, USA. jderouch@ksu.edu
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: DeRouchey
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Tokach
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nelssen
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Goodband
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dritz
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Woodworth
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Real
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000528:radiation effects; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D005514:Food Irradiation; D005720:Gamma Rays; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014886:Weaning; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D004044:Dietary Proteins