Domestic pig farming is increasing nowadays, it is estimated that the total number of pigs by 2017 will raise to more than 10.7 million.
Despite the steady growth, the high production cost for pig raising is a big concern in pig farming. In Korea, inc...
Domestic pig farming is increasing nowadays, it is estimated that the total number of pigs by 2017 will raise to more than 10.7 million.
Despite the steady growth, the high production cost for pig raising is a big concern in pig farming. In Korea, increased in production costs were mainly due to higher feed conversion rates and higher feed costs. Most pigs were usually raised in pig farms where there is little contact with soil or grasslands which contains trace minerals. Trace minerals researches on pigs were based on experiments conducted on 1990, wherein pig production was very low. This study aims to improve immunity and productivity of pigs by supplementing liquid mineral in drinking water to replenish the minerals necessary for pig’s growth.
The study was divided into 2 experiments. Experiment 1 was carried out for 5 weeks to investigate the effects liquid mineral in the productivity and digestibility of growing pigs. Results showed that among the treatments significantly higher feed intake was observed in the control group (66.29 kg) than 0.2% mineral water (57.96 kg), therefore generating higher feed cost in control (43,219 KRW) than other treatments (p<0.05). On the other hand, better feed conversion ratio (FCR) was seen in 0.2% mineral water than in control group with 1.99 and 2.45, respectively (p <0.05). No significant difference was seen in blood immunoglobulin and digestibility of growing pigs (p>0.05). Overall results of experiment 1 indicated that supplementation of 0.2% mineral water produced the best results and can improve productivity in
growing pigs.
In experiment 2, finisher pigs were reared for 7 weeks to determine the effect of liquid mineral feeding on its productivity and digestibility.
Highest weight gain was recorded in control with 50.50 kg (p<0.05).
Feed intake was highest in 0.2% mineral water (194.62 kg) and lowest in 0.1% mineral water (149.58 kg) (p<0.05). Also, better FCR was recorded in pigs fed with 0.1% mineral water (3.07) than other treatments (p<0.05). Meat composition and quality were also analyzed.
Highest and lowest moisture content was observed in pigs fed with 0.1% mineral water (74.04%) and 0.02% mineral water (72.93%) (p<0.05).
There is no significant difference in the meat composition was observed aside from magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and iron (Fe) values. Meat samples from the control group have the highest Mg (0.014 mg/100g), Na (1.09 mg/100g), and K (7.404 mg/100g) among the treatments (p<0.05). While highest value for Fe in meat samples were seen in mineral treatments 0.2% and 0.02% with 0.004 mg/100g and 0.001 mg/100g, respectively (p<0.05). Carcass weight (95 kg) and backfat thickness (25.10 mm) were shown to be highest in 0.2% mineral water treatment (p<0.05). Digestibility was divided into 2 finisher stages: early finisher and late finisher. In early finisher stage, pigs fed with 0.1% mineral have the highest digestibility with 85.37% and lowest in control group with 81.32% (p<0.05). No significant difference in late finisher stage digestibility was observed. Odorous gases like ammonia and sulfur dioxide was measured for 48 hours. Ammonia and sulfur
dioxide level was recorded to be highest in pigs fed with 0.2% mineral water with 211.50 ppm and 0.68 ppm, respectively (p<0.05). The lowest value recorded for ammonia level (75.84 ppm) was present in 0.1% mineral water and in sulfur dioxide (0.56 ppm) was in 0.02% mineral water (p<0.05). Since higher feed intake signifies higher feed cost, feed costs in 0.2% mineral water treatments were significantly higher with 121,446 KRW and lowest in pigs fed with 0.1% mineral water with 93,334 KRW (p<0.05). In conclusion, experiment 2 demonstrated that mineral feeding in finisher pigs can improve productivity wherein 0.1% mineral water treatment was preferred.
The effects of liquid mineral additives on the productivity and digestibility of growing pigs and finishing pigs were investigated.
Different dilution ratios provided better production performance in each pig growth stages. In growing pigs, supplementation of 0.2% mineral water produced improve production performance. On the other hand, supplementation of 0.1% mineral water was more preferred in finishing pigs.