The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of supplementation of hot melt extrusion (HME) processed Zn sulfate on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, small intestinal morphology and excretion of Zn in weanling pigs. A total of 200 piglets of mixed sex randomly allotted to four treatments on the basis of initial BW (7.15±0.81 kg). There were five replicates in each treatment with 10 pigs per replicate. The experimental treatments consisted of: 1) basal diet containing ZnSO4; 2) basal diet containing Zn-Methionine (ZnMet); 3) basal diet containing low level of nano-Zn as HME (ZnHME50); 4) basal diet containing medium level of nano-Zn as HME ZnSO4 (Zn-HME75). The average daily gain was improved by the ZnMet and ZnHME75 compared with the pigs fed ZnSO4 supplemented diets (p=0.009). Moreover, ZnHME75 and ZnMet affected on the ATTD of CP during phase 2 (p=0.014). The villus height (VH) was affected by increasing when pigs fed diets supplemented the ZnHME75 (P=0.044). The pigs fed diets supplemented ZnHME50 had significantly the lowest (p=0.037) Zn content in liver compared with other treatments. The Zn content in the feces was significantly higher (p<0.001) in ZnSO4 and ZnMet compared with ZnHME50 or ZnHME75. In conclusion, it could be concluded that dietary Zn can be reduced by 25% with ZnHME without any detrimental effect on performance of weanling pigs.

The present study investigated the effects of fermented potato protein (FPP, Lianol® ferity) during gestation and lactation on productivity of sows. A total of 50 crossbred sows (Landrace×Yorkshire) in their 3 to 5 parities were allotted to one of two treatments (n=25) including control and FPP groups. FPP tablets applied in sows in two stages. Stage one involved applying FPP daily from 3 days before farrowing to 2 days after for 5 consecutive days. The second stage also involved a 5 day period around weaning time from 3 days before to 2 days after. After farrowing, the amount of feed offered 3 times per day gradually increased from about 3.6 kg at farrowing to 8.4 kg at late lactation. During the first lactation FPP tended to increase backfat thickness (BFT) at weaning at the first (p=0.069) whereas FPP increased BFT (p<0.05) at weaning in the second lactation. There was no significant effect of FPP on body weight changes and daily feed intake of sows. Decreased weaning to estrus interval was associated with applying lianol tablet at the second lactation (p<0.05). Weight of born alive piglets, weaned piglets and total weight gain were greater in FPP group at the second lactation (p<0.05). Applying FPP tended (p=0.062) to increase insulin like growth factor-Ⅰ(IGF-I) at the weaning time in the first lactation. The effect of FPP on IGF-I was significant at the second lactation, revealing a higher concentration in blood at post farrowing and weaning time (p<0.05). This study shows the benefit of using FPP tablets in sows to increase blood IGF-I and both initial and final litter size to improve piglet weaning weights.

A total of 240 growing pigs were distributed in three treatment groups to investigate the influence of fermentation in different feeder type on the growing finishing pigs. The treatments were dry feeding (DF), wet feeding (WF) with dry-wet feeders and liquid feeding (LF) with freshly prepared 3:1 water to feed ratio fed three times a day throughout the experiment. The average daily gain (ADG) and body weight were consistently greater (p<0.05) in LF than the others. When the entire experimental period was taken under consideration the ADG and body weight was also found to be increased (p<0.05) in WF in comparison to DF. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) and growth to feed ratio (G/F) was not affected however the average daily water intake (ADWI) and water to feed ratio (W/F) were significantly reduced (p<0.01) in WF in comparison to DF and LF. The ATTD of DM, GE and CP was increased (p<0.05) in WF and LF in comparison to DF at both phase I and II (4th and 8th wk) of the experiment. Carcass characteristics and blood parameters were not affected (p>0.05) in any of the feeding type in growing finishing pigs. It can be concluded that wet feeding with dry-wet feeders is good for enhancing the growth performance in the later stages while fresh liquid feeding in ratio 3:1 is beneficial for the growing finishing pigs throughout the experiment.