Exploring Growth Response in Swine Through Pellet Quality Research

By Scout Nelson

Kansas State University's research on pellet quality in swine feed has shed light on its impact on growth response and feed efficiency. Led by former graduate student Patrick Badger and associate professor Chad Paulk, the studies explored the response of swine to different pellet qualities and the presence of fines in their feed.

The research initially indicated a traditional response, with pelleted diets improving pig feed conversion by 4 to 6% compared to mash diets. An increase in fines at the feeder led to poorer feed conversion, up to 1.4%. This aligned with previous studies, but late finishing pigs showed an unexpected growth response when fed pelleted diets.

Different pelleting processes were used, including varying die sizes. Early grower phase data showed no difference in average daily gain between pigs fed pelleted and mash diets. However, in the late finisher phase, pelleted diets led to a 9% improvement in average daily gain compared to mash diets, regardless of the percentage of fines.

Further experimentation was designed to be more practical, using typical mash diets and different pellet dies. The thicker die resulted in 28% fines, and the thinner die led to 42% fines at the feeder. Pigs fed pelleted diets with the thicker diet experienced a 6% increase in average daily gain compared to those on mash diets.

Interestingly, pigs fed screened pellets (with reduced fines) also showed an increase in average daily gain. In contrast, those fed straight fines performed similarly to those on mash diets. The research consistently showed a 4 to 7% improvement in feed to gain for pigs fed pelleted diets with about 28% fines.

These findings indicate that pellet quality and the pelleting process significantly influence swine growth and feed efficiency. With ongoing research and new associates focusing on digestibility, Kansas State University continues to provide valuable insights into swine nutrition and feed manufacturing processes.

Photo credit: istock-srdjan-stepic