Editor's Note
The current issue of the newsletter contains the following:
- A research report highlighting results from two experiments in which corn grains containing multiple modified input traits were fed to growing-finishing pigs.
- A “Current Comment” discussing issues with mycotoxins in corn.
- Two new video podcasts from the Stein Monogastric Nutrition Laboratory.
Sincerely,
Hans H Stein
Research Report
Evaluation of growth performance and carcass characteristics in pigs fed two varieties of genetically modified corn
Most corn hybrids grown in the US are genetically modified to resist certain pests or to tolerate certain herbicides. Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the nutritional value of corn that is genetically modified for pest resistance, but there are no published reports about feeding corn that has been modified for both pest resistance and insecticide tolerance to pigs. Investigation into the nutritional value of such corn is, however, warranted, because the use of crops with multiply stacked traits is rapidly increasing; approximately 35 million acres of crops with double- and triple-stacked traits were planted in the United States in 2006.
Two experiments were, therefore, conducted to determine if the nutritional value of corn grain with multiple genetically modified traits is different from that of nontransgenic corn. The hypothesis in both experiments was that pigs fed transgenic corn would not differ in growth performance or carcass characteristics from pigs fed nontransgenic corn.
Current Comment
Mycotoxins in corn are a greater concern in hot weather
With the increase in the outside temperature, it is no longer possible to keep grain stored at a temperature of 50o F or less, which means that mycotoxins can now be produced in stored grain. It is, therefore, important to continue to keep an eye on the quality of the grain coming out of the bins. It is also important to keep the moisture concentration in the grain as low as possible and preferably at less than 14% to reduce the risk of mycotoxin production in the grain. Contaminated grain needs to be cleaned and dried and, if possible, it should be mixed with non-contaminated grain before usage to reduce the level of mycotoxins in the finished feed to levels that will not cause production problems.
New video podcasts
April 8: Energy concentration and phosphorus digestibility in milk products fed to weanling pigs
Dr. Hans H Stein discusses research that was conducted to determine energy and phosphorus digestibility of whey powder and novel sources of whey permeate and lactose.
April 14: Phosphorus and energy digestibility in enzyme treated soybean meal
Graduate student Kurtis Goebel discusses results of research conducted to determine energy and phosphorus digestibility of enzyme treated soybean meal that contains no antigens.