title: Potential of Using Maize Cobs in Pig Diets - A Review.
abstract: The quest to broaden the narrow range of feed ingredients available to pig producers has prompted research on the use of low cost, unconventional feedstuffs, which are typically fibrous and abundant. Maize cobs, a by-product of a major cereal grown worldwide, have potential to be used as a pig feed ingredient. Presently, maize cobs are either dumped or burnt for fuel. The major challenge in using maize cobs in pig diets is their lignocellulosic nature (45% to 55% cellulose, 25% to 35% hemicellulose, and 20% to 30% lignin) which is resistant to pigs' digestive enzymes. The high fiber in maize cobs (930 g neutral detergent fiber/kg dry matter [DM]; 573 g acid detergent fiber/kg DM) increases rate of passage and sequestration of nutrients in the fiber reducing their digestion. However, grinding, heating and fermentation can modify the structure of the fibrous components in the maize cobs and improve their utilization. Pigs can also extract up to 25% of energy maintenance requirements from fermentation products. In addition, dietary fiber improves pig intestinal health by promoting the growth of lactic acid bacteria, which suppress proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the intestines. This paper reviews maize cob composition and the effect on digestibility of nutrients, intestinal microflora and growth performance and proposes the use of ensiling using exogenous enzymes to enhance utilization in diets of pigs.
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Research Council-Animal Production Institute, Pretoria 0062, South Africa ; Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa .
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Kanengoni
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Animal and Poultry Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3209, South Africa .
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chimonyo
authors.affiliation: Agricultural Research Council, Proteomics Research and Services Unit, Infruitech-Nietvoorbij Institute, Department of Biotechnology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 7535, South Africa .
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ndimba
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa .
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dzama
keywords: Dietary Fiber; Ensiling; Exogenous Enzymes; Lignocellulose; Maize Cobs