Benzoic Acid Combined with Essential Oils Can Be an Alternative to the Use of Antibiotic Growth Promoters for Piglets Challenged with E. coli F4

Benzoic acid (BA) and essential oils (EOs) (thymol, 2-methoxyphenol, eugenol, piperine, and curcumin) are being studied to minimize the impairment of gastrointestinal functions in weanling piglets. This study evaluates the effects of combining BA and EO on the performance and intestinal health of piglets challenged with E. coli F4 (1 mL, 106 CFU/mL). In total, 270 weaned piglets were used in a randomized block design with six treatments: positive control, with 40 mg/kg colistin (PC); negative control, without the growth promoter (NC); negative control +5 g/kg benzoic acid (BA); negative control +2 g/kg combination of BA+EO (BA+EO2); negative control +3 g/kg combination of BA+EO (BA+EO3); negative control +4 g/kg combination of BA+EO (BA+EO4). BA+EO3 presented a greater average daily gain (ADG) (p = 0.0013) and better feed-to-gain ratio (p = 0.0138), compared to NC, from 21 to 35 days age. For the total period, BA, BA+EO3, and BA+EO4 were similar to PC and superior to NC for ADG (p = 0.0002) and final body weight (BW) (p = 0.0002). No difference (p > 0.05) was verified for diarrhea, microbial population, production of volatile fatty acids, pH, weight of organs, cellular proliferation, and cholecystokinin count. NC and BA+EO4 resulted in a higher villus height in the jejunum (p = 0.0120) compared to BA+EO3. The use of BA or the combination of BA and EO at 3 g/kg provides improved performance, aside from being an economically viable alternative to replace colistin.

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PSVI-16 The Association of Benzoic Acid and Essential Oils Eo Reduces the Inflammatory Response of Weaned Piglets and the Diarrhea Incidence in the Nursery Phase

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab054.330 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 202-203

Author(s):

Sudario Roberto Silva Junior ◽

Maíra Resende ◽

Rhuan F Chaves ◽

Jéssica Aparecida Barbosa ◽

Iana I M Ferreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Inflammatory Response ◽

Benzoic Acid ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Block Design ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Total Period ◽

Diarrhea Incidence

Abstract Benzoic acid (BA) and essential oils (EO) can minimize growth performance losses due to the removal of antibiotics and change the intestinal health of weaned piglets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of BA and EO on inflammatory response, diarrhea incidence, and growth performance of the nursery phase. One hundred and twenty barrows were weaned at 23 days (6.40 ± 0.53 kg) and assigned into 3 treatments (10 replicates) in randomized block design: basal diet without additives (NC), basal diet with 200 ppm of colistin sulphate (PC), and association of 0,3% benzoic acid and essential oil (BA+EO). The feed intake and body weight were recorded at 0 and 42 days. The feces were assessed daily (per animal) and graded as normal feces (no diarrhea) or liquid or pasty stools (presence of diarrhea). On days 1, 3, and 9, blood samples were collected (5 replicates) for white blood cells (WBC) counts. Growth performance was analyzed by MIXED procedure (SAS, 2009) and the Tukey test was used to compare the means (P < 0.050). The WBC counts were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance, by MIXED procedure. Diarrhea incidence was analyzed by GENMOD procedure (SAS, 2009). The BA+EO treatment showed a similar body weight (P = 0.014) and average daily gain (P = 0.012) than the PC group and lower feed conversion ratio (P = 0.037) compared to the NC group. The pigs of the BA+EO treatment had the lowest diarrhea incidence during the total period (P < 0.001). The supplementation with BA+EO or antibiotics reduced the counts of total WBC (P = 0.008) and neutrophils (P = 0.003). In conclusion, supplementation with BA+EO reduces the inflammatory response and the incidence of diarrhea in the nursery phase, that may be related to the improvement in the FCR.

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PSVI-19 The Association of Benzoic Acid and Essential Oils Increases the Cecal Biodiversity in Weaned Piglets and Improves Growth Performance in Finishing Pigs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab054.326 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 200-200

Author(s):

Sudario Roberto Silva Junior ◽

Maíra Resende ◽

Rhuan F Chaves ◽

Athos Silveira Marques ◽

Pedro Massahiro de Matos Murata ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Benzoic Acid ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Block Design ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Finishing Pigs ◽

Cecal Content ◽

Weaned Piglets

Abstract Benzoic acid (BA) and essential oils (EO) have antimicrobial properties and can be used in antibiotic restriction situations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of BA and EO on cecal content microbiota in weaned piglets and growth performance from the nursery to finishing phase. One hundred and twenty barrows were weaned at 23 days (6.40 ± 0.53 kg) and assigned into 3 treatments (10 replicates) in randomized block design: basal diet without additives (NC), basal diet with antibiotics (PC), and association of 0,3% benzoic acid and essential oil (BA+EO). Colistin sulphate (200 ppm) in the nursery diets and enramycin (10 and 5 ppm) in the growing and finishing diets were used in the PC treatment. The pigs were weighed 0, 42 and 132 days into the experiment. On day 9, one animal per pen (7 replicates) was euthanized and the cecal content was collected for microbiome analyses. Growth performance was analyzed by MIXED procedure (SAS, 2009) and the Tukey test was used to compare the means (P < 0.050). The averages for biodiversity between treatments were compared using the number of OTUs and the Kruskal Wallis test (P < 0.050), and the statistical program STAMP was used. In the microbiome analyses, the results of the taxonomic classification, by principal components analysis (PCA), showed a marked difference in bacterial communities per treatment and a significant increase in the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was observed in the BA+EO group (P < 0.05). At 132 days, the final weight (P = 0.006) and total average daily gain (P = 0.028) of BA+EO and PC were higher than NC. In conclusion, supplementation with BA+EO increases biodiversity in cecal content in the post-weaning period, resulting in an improvement in the growth performance of finishing pigs.

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Growth Performance and Shedding of Some Pathogenic Bacteria in Feedlot Cattle Treated with Different Growth-Promoting Agents†

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-69.6.1256 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 69 (6) ◽

pp. 1256-1264 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

BRIGITTE LEFEBVRE ◽

FRANÇOIS MALOUIN ◽

GABRIEL ROY ◽

KARINE GIGUÈRE ◽

MOUSSA S. DIARRA

Keyword(s):

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Block Design ◽

Economic Effect ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Specific Treatment ◽

Microbial Evolution ◽

Growth Promoter ◽

Antibiotic Resistant ◽

E Coli ◽

Growth Promoting

Eighty steers with a mean body weight of 319 kg were used in a study to evaluate the effect of a growth-promoting implant (trenbolone acetate plus estradiol benzoate), monensin, and oxytetracycline on the steer performance and shedding of some foodborne pathogens. The steers were allotted to one of eight treatment combinations according to a randomized complete block design with 16 pens of five animals. Rectal fecal samples were collected before treatment commenced and over a period of more than 24 weeks to study the influence of treatments on the intestinal microbiology of the animals. Results supported the beneficial effect of the hormonal implant on the performance of feedlot steers (average daily gain, feed efficiency, and fat thickness), on carcass characteristics (hot carcass weight, lean yield), and economic value of the carcasses (P < 0.01). The levels of Escherichia coli in feces were not affected by treatments but remained high throughout the study period. Antibiotic-resistant isolates of E. coli were more frequently found as the study progressed but were not associated with any specific treatment. Also independently of treatment, we observed a reduction over time in the shedding of Campylobacter and Yersinia during the feeding period, whereas the shedding of Enterococcus was increased. The results of this study confirmed the beneficial economic effect of growth-promoting agents in beef production and showed that the agents tested did not specifically affect the overall microbial evolution of the animal gut. However, the study also showed, independently of the growth promoter used, the shedding of Campylobacter, Yersinia, and antibiotic-resistant E. coli in the feedlot environment. These bacteria also may be found in the colonic tissue of steers at slaughter and might be a source of carcasses contamination.

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19 Dietary Supplementation of Botanicals Enhanced Growth Performance and Disease Resistance of Weaned Pigs Experimentally Infected with a Pathogenic E. coli

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab054.050 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 29-29

Author(s):

Braden T Wong ◽

Yijie He ◽

Kwangwook Kim ◽

Sharon Xu ◽

Christopher Lingga ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Block Design ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Dietary Supplementation ◽

Negative Control ◽

High Dose ◽

Weaned Piglets ◽

Weaned Pigs ◽

E Coli

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary botanical supplementation on growth performance and frequency of diarrhea of weaned piglets experimentally infected with a pathogenic F18 Escherichia coli (E. coli). Sixty weaned piglets (around 21 days old; 7.15 ± 0.97 kg) were individually housed and randomly allotted to one of five dietary treatments (n = 12): negative control (NC), positive control (PC), high dose of botanicals blend 1 (BB1, 100 ppm), low dose of botanicals blend 2 (BB2, 50 ppm), and high dose of botanicals blend 2 (BB2, 100 ppm). The experiment lasted 28 days: from day -7 to +21 relative to E. coli inoculation. All piglets except the pigs in the NC group were orally inoculated with F18 E. coli (1010 cfu per dose, 3 doses) for 3 consecutive days. Growth performance was recorded throughout the experiment and diarrhea scores were recorded daily. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using PROC MIXED of SAS with a randomized complete block design. E. coli challenge reduced (P < 0.05) pig body weight and growth rate throughout the experiment. Pigs supplemented with high dose BB1 or BB2 tended (P < 0.10) to have greater body weight (19.52 and 19.10 vs. 18.00 kg) on d 21 PI and greater average daily gain from d 0 to 21 PI (554 and 557 vs. 515 g/d) than PC. No differences were observed in pig performance between high dose BB1 or BB2 in comparison with NC. Supplementation of high dose BB1 or BB2 also reduced (P < 0.05) frequency and severity of diarrhea of challenged pigs during the entire experimental period. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of botanicals reduced diarrhea and tended to improve growth performance of weaned pigs infected with E. coli.

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PSVI-14 Blend of Additives in Nursery Pig Diets as an Antibiotics Substitute Increases the Growth Performance and Intestinal Health

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab054.328 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 201-201

Author(s):

Sudario Roberto Silva Junior ◽

Rhuan F Chaves ◽

Maíra Resende ◽

Ygor Henrique De Paula ◽

Kenio De Gouvêa Cabral ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Animal Feed ◽

Block Design ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Intestinal Health ◽

Total Period ◽

Nursery Pigs ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Diarrhea Incidence

Abstract Antibiotics growth promoting (AGP) in animal feed has been restricted. With this, several additives have been tested in order to replace AGP and ensure intestinal health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a blend of additives on growth performance, diarrhea incidence and cecal content microbiota of nursery pigs. A total of 576 weaned pigs (6.21 ± 1.16 kg) were assigned into 4 treatments (12 replicates) in randomized block design: basal diet without additives (NC); basal diet with 120 ppm of halquinol (PC); NC + 0,05% blend of lactic acid (3,5%), benzoic acid (2,5%), flavonoids (3,5%) (B5); NC+ 0,1% of same blend (B10). The pigs were weighed 0 and 42 days into the experiment. On day 10, one animal per pen (10 replicates) was euthanized for microbiota analyses. The diarrhea incidence was calculated by the percentage of visual pens with diarrhea, by day, in the period. The growth performance was analyzed by GLIMMIX procedure and the means were compared with Tukey test (P < 0.050) (SAS, 2009). Diarrhea incidence was analyzed by GENMOD procedure (SAS, 2009). The Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare microbial biodiversity (P < 0.050) by statistical program STAMP. The final weight (P = 0.010) and average daily gain (P = 0.001) of B10 and PC were higher than NC. Regarding diarrhea, it was observed that the B5 and B10 had lower incidence when compared to other groups in the total period. In the microbiome analyses, it was observed that the B5, B10, and PC groups had lower (P = 0.021) biodiversity when compared to the NC piglets. However, the B5 and B10 group had higher biodiversity when compared to the PC group. In conclusion, the supplementation with 0,1% blend of additives can be a substitute for AGP.

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Evaluation of Dietary Probiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum BG0001) Supplementation on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Blood Profile, Fecal Gas Emission, and Fecal Microbiota in Weaning Pigs

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11082232 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 2232

Author(s):

Huan Wang ◽

In-ho Kim

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Lactobacillus Plantarum ◽

Block Design ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Fecal Microbiota ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Gas Emission ◽

Blood Profile ◽

E Coli ◽

Weaning Pigs

A total of 180, 4-week-old crossbred weaning piglets ((Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc; 6.67 ± 1.40 kg) were used in a 42 day experiment to evaluate the effect of dietary probiotics (Lactobacillus plantarum BG0001) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profile, fecal microbiota, and noxious gas emission. All pigs were randomly allotted to one of four treatment diets in a completely randomized block design. Each treatment had nine replicates with five pigs/pen (mixed sex) Designated dietary treatments were as: (1) basal diet (NC), (2) NC + 0.2% antibiotics (chlortetracycline) (PC), (3) NC + 0.1% L. plantarum BG0001 (Lactobacillus plantarum BG0001) (NC1), (4) NC + 0.2% L. plantarum BG0001 (NC2). On d 42, BW and G:F were lower (p < 0.05) in pigs fed NC diet compared with PC diet and probiotic diets. Throughout this experiment, the average daily gain increased (p < 0.05) in pigs when fed with PC and probiotic diets than the NC diet. The average daily feed intake was higher (p < 0.05) in pigs fed PC diet during day 0–7 and 22–42, and probiotic diets during day 0–7 compared with NC diet, respectively. The Lactobacillus count was increased and Escherichia coli count was decreased (p < 0.05) in the fecal microbiota of pigs fed probiotic diets, and E. coli were decreased (p < 0.05) when fed a PC diet compared with the NC diet on day 21. Moreover, the apparent total tract nutrient digestibility, blood profile, and the concentration of noxious gas emission had no negative effects by the probiotic treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with L. plantarum BG0001 significantly improved the growth performance, increased fecal Lactobacillus, and decreased E. coli counts in weaning pigs.

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172 Effects of Dietary Valine, Isoleucine, and Tryptophan Supplementations to Diets Containing Excess Leucine from Corn Protein on Growth Performance of Growing Pigs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab054.103 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 61-62

Author(s):

Woongbi Bi Kwon ◽

Jose A Soto ◽

Hans H Stein

Keyword(s):

Block Design ◽

Control Diet ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Growing Pigs ◽

Experimental Unit ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Final Body Weight ◽

Corn Protein ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that addition of Val, Ile, or Trp alone or in combination will reduce the negative effects of excess Leu in diets for growing pigs. A total of 288 growing pigs (28.6 ± 2.5 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 9 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. There were 2 barrows and 2 gilts in each pen and 8 replicate pens per treatment. A control diet based on corn and soybean meal and 8 diets based on corn and a high-protein corn product (48% crude protein) with 2 levels of crystalline L-Val (0 or 0.10%), L-Ile (0 or 0.10%), and L-Trp (0 or 0.05%) were formulated. The crystalline L-Val, L-Ile, and L-Trp increased standardized ileal digestible (SID) Val:Lys from 70 to 80%, SID Ile:Lys from 53 to 63%, and SID Trp:Lys from 18 to 23%, respectively. All diets were formulated to contain 1.00% SID Lys and the 8 diets containing corn protein contained 171% SID Leu:Lys. Individual pig weights were recorded at the beginning and at the conclusion of the 28-d experiment. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED of SAS with a pen as the experimental unit. Diet was the fixed effect and block and replicate within block were random effects. Results indicated that final body weight and average daily gain were not different between pigs fed the control diet and pigs fed the diet with Val and Trp addition, but greater (P < 0.001) than for pigs fed the diet with Val addition, Ile addition, Trp addition, Val and Ile addition, Ile and Trp addition, or Val, Ile, and Trp addition (Table 1). In conclusion, addition of Val and Trp to diets with excess Leu may prevent negative effects of excess Leu in diets for growing pigs.

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PSX-B-5 Effect of replacement of dry-rolled corn with un-processed rye on growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy utilization, and carcass traits of finishing heifers

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.813 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 458-459

Author(s):

Keith M Buckhaus ◽

Warren C Rusche ◽

Zachary K Smith

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Block Design ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Estradiol Benzoate ◽

Energy Utilization ◽

Net Energy ◽

Final Body Weight ◽

Trenbolone Acetate ◽

Finishing Diets

Abstract Continental × British beef heifers were used in a randomized complete block design experiment to evaluate the effects of replacing dry-rolled corn with unprocessed rye on growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy (NE) utilization, and carcass trait responses in finishing heifers. Heifers (n = 56; 433 ± 34.0 kg) were transported 241 km from a regional sale barn to the Ruminant Nutrition Center in Brookings, SD. Heifers were blocked by weight grouping and then allotted to pens (n = 7 heifers/pen and 4 pens/treatment). Treatments included a finishing diet that contained 60% grain (DM basis) as dry-rolled corn (DRC) or unprocessed rye grain (RYE). On d 14, heifers were consuming the final diet and were implanted with 200 mg of trenbolone acetate and 28 mg of estradiol benzoate (Synovex-Plus, Zoetis, Parsippany, NJ). RYE heifers had decreased (P ≤ 0.01) final body weight, average daily gain, and gain efficiency; but tended (P = 0.08) to have a greater dry matter intake compared to DRC. RYE had decreased (P ≤ 0.01) observed dietary NE and decreased (P ≤ 0.01) observed-to-expected dietary NE ratio for maintenance and gain compared to DRC. Dressing percentage, 12th rib fat thickness, ribeye area, and the distribution of USDA yield and quality grades were not altered (P ≥ 0.12) by diet. Hot carcass weight, yield grade, estimated empty body fat (EBF), and body weight at 28% EBF decreased (P ≤ 0.02) and retail yield increased (P= 0.01) in RYE compared to DRC. These data indicate that unprocessed rye is a palatable feed ingredient for inclusion in finishing diets for beef cattle and that rye inclusion only minimally influences carcass quality. The feeding value of unprocessed rye is considerably less (21.4%) than that of dry-rolled corn using current standards and approximately 91% of the NE value of processed rye.

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99 Effects of replacing monensin and tylosin in finishing cattle diets with essential oil and/or benzoic acid on meat color and oxidative stability of ribeye steaks and ground beef

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz122.102 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 56-56

Author(s):

Lydia M Wang ◽

Shiqi Huang ◽

Sebastian Chalupa-Krebzdak ◽

Sandra M Vasquez Mejia ◽

Benjamin M Bohrer

Keyword(s):

Benzoic Acid ◽

Lipid Oxidation ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Block Design ◽

Ground Beef ◽

Thiobarbituric Acid ◽

Finishing Cattle ◽

Instrumental Color ◽

Beef Products

Abstract This study examined the effects of replacing monensin and tylosin with essential oils and/or benzoic acid in finishing cattle diets on beef color stability and lipid oxidation during a simulated retail display period. The longissimus thoracis (LT) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles were obtained from 63 steers that were fed for 98 days on 1 of 5 finishing diets: no additional supplement (CON), monensin/tylosin (M/T), essential oils (EO), benzoic acid (BA), or a combination of essential oils and benzoic acid (COMBO). Instrumental color measured with a Minolta colorimeter and visual discoloration evaluated by two trained panelists were recorded daily for three beef products placed under simulated retail conditions, until a 60% surface discoloration was observed. The three beef products evaluated were LT steaks, and two types of ground beef patties manufactured with the SM muscles (lean – no additional fat and regular – 25% added fat). The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay was used before and after the shelf life display to determine the degree of lipid oxidation for products during the display. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS using repeated measures. Results indicated a treatment by day interaction (P < 0.0001) for visual discoloration and instrumental color of all three products. At the end of the display period, products from the COMBO diet had on average the least amount of visual discoloration and the greatest a* (redness) value, while the CON steaks and M/T ground beef had the most discoloration and the lowest a* values. TBARS values at d 0 and d 7 did not differ (P > 0.23) among treatments for all three products. Overall, supplemental ingredients in feed did not affect the color and degree of lipid oxidation of steaks and ground beef to a level deemed detrimental.

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139 Bioavailability of valine in a fermentation biomass product relative to the bioavailability in crystalline L-valine when fed to weanling pigs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz122.144 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 78-79

Author(s):

Maryane S Faria de Oliveira ◽

John K Htoo ◽

Caroline J González-Vega ◽

John E Thomson ◽

Hans H Stein

Keyword(s):

Linear Regression ◽

Block Design ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Relative Bioavailability ◽

Feed Ratio ◽

Weanling Pigs ◽

Final Body Weight ◽

Quadratic Effects ◽

Daily Gain

Abstract An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that Val from a Val-containing fermentation biomass product (Val-FB; 64.4% L-Val) has a bioavailability of 100% relative to L-Val (98% Val) when fed to weanling pigs. A Val-deficient basal diet containing 0.63% standardized ileal digestible (SID) Val was formulated. Six additional diets were prepared by supplementing the basal diet with 0.08, 0.16, or 0.24% L-Val or 0.12, 0.25, or 0.37% Val-FB to create experimental diets containing 0.71, 0.79, or 0.87% SID Val. A total of 224 weanling pigs (6.87 ± 0.64 kg) were allotted to a randomized complete block design with 7 diets and 8 replicate pens per diet. Diets were fed for 21 d and growth performance was measured on a pen basis. Orthogonal-polynomial contrasts were used to determine linear and quadratic effects of L-Val and Val-FB levels on performance and the effect of Val sources. A linear regression model based on performance was used to estimate the relative bioavailability (RBV) of Val in Val-FB relative to L-Val. The final body-weight (BW) and average-daily-gain (ADG) were greater (P < 0.01) for pigs fed diets supplemented with Val-FB than pigs fed diets supplemented with L-Val (Table 1). The average-daily-feed-intake (ADFI) decreased linearly (P < 0.01), whereas gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) increased (P < 0.01) by supplementing graded levels of both Val sources to the diets. The RBV of Val in Val-FB as determined by ADG, G:F, and final BW was 146, 135, and 143%, respectively, with 95% confidence intervals of 99 to 191%, 83 to 187%, and 70 to 217%, respectively. In conclusion, the linear regression estimated a RBV of at least 100% for Val-FB relative to L-Val, and pigs fed diets supplemented with Val-FB had greater ADG and final BW than pigs fed diets supplemented with the same amount of L-Val.

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