Lagos, L. V., M. R. Bedford, and H. H. Stein. 2021. Effects of Reducing the Concentration of Ca and P and Increasing Microbial Phytase on Gastric Ph, Fecal Score, Growth Performance, and Bone Ash of Weanling Pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 99(Suppl. 1): 44-45. doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab054.077 (Abstr.) Link to Abstract.

Espinosa C. D., R. S. Fry, J. L. Usry, H. H. Stein. 2021. Copper hydroxychloride improves gain to feed ratio in pigs, but this is not due to improved true total tract digestibility of acid hydrolyzed ether extract. Animal Feed Science and Technology 274: 114839. doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2021.114839  Link to full text.

Limbach, Joseph R., Estefania Pérez Calvo, Hans H. Stein. 2020. Effects of dietary crude protein level on growth performance, fecal score, gastrointestinal pH, and blood characteristics in weanling pigs fed antibiotic-free diets. J. Anim. Sci. 98(Suppl. 3): 91. doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa054.159 (Abstr.). Link to abstract.

Espinosa, Charmaine D., L. Vanessa Lagos, and Hans H. Stein. 2020. Effect of torula yeast on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, and blood characteristics in weanling pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 2020, Vol. 98, No. 10, 1–9. doi:10.1093/jas/skaa307. Link to full text.
 

In many parts of the world, including the United States, corn is the primary energy source used in diets for pigs, but there are no published data comparing the growth performance of growing pigs fed diets in which hybrid rye replaces corn. Unfamiliarity with hybrid rye also makes some producers in the United States reluctant to try feeding hybrid rye to pigs, as there is a long-standing belief that rye is less palatable than other feed ingredients. Therefore, two experiments were conducted to test the hypotheses that there is no difference in feed preference for diets containing either hybrid rye or corn as the exclusive cereal grain source, and that hybrid rye may replace a portion of corn in diets for growing pigs without adversely affecting growth. 

Bakery meal consist of unsalable bread, breakfast cereals, cookies, pasta, and other foods that are no longer intended for human consumption. Bakery meal converts losses from the food industry into ingredients for the animal feed industry, thereby preventing food losses in the food chain. Wheat flour is the main ingredient in most bakery products, and this results in bakery meal containing high concentration of starch. Therefore, bakery meal is a potential sustainable feed ingredient that can be used in animal diets without competing with the food industry. However, research demonstrating the effect of bakery meal on growth performance for weanling pigs is limited. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that replacing corn with bakery meal will not influence growth performance of pigs.

NexPro is a high protein feed ingredient that is generated via downstream processing of co-products from the dry-grind ethanol industry. Results from digestibility experiments indicate that NexPro contribute considerable quantities of amino acids and energy to diets fed to pigs, but there are no data demonstrating effects on growth performance of including NexPro in diets for weanling pigs. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that NexPro may replace other high-value protein sources in diets for weanling pigs without impacting pig growth performance.

Sylpro enhanced torula yeast is a high protein feed ingredient derived from forestry by-products, and results from digestibility experiments indicate that Sylpro yeast may be a valuable source of energy and digestible amino acids in diets fed to weanling pigs. As a consequence, it is believed that Sylpro yeast may be included in diets for weanling pigs at the expense of fish meal and other animal protein sources. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that increasing levels of Sylpro yeast improve growth performance and blood characteristics of weanling pigs.

Production of hybrid rye in North America is increasing after being introduced to Canada and the United States in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Compared with corn, hybrid rye contains similar amounts of standardized ileal digestible amino acids, a greater concentration of standardized total tract digestible P, and approximately 94% of the metabolizable energy. Hybrid rye contains more fermentable dietary fiber than corn, which has the potential to improve gut health, but its reduced digestibility of amino acids may simultaneously have a negative impact on the health of the large intestine. Two experiments were conducted to determine the maximum amount of hybrid rye that can be included in diets for weanling pigs without influencing growth performance or diarrhea incidence.