Influences of Fermented Corn Straw Fiber on Performance and Nutrient Utilization in Different Breeds of Finishing Pigs

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the effects of dietary fiber level and breed on the growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal morphology, slaughter performance, and meat quality of finishing pigs using fermented corn straw (FCS) as the fiber source. The experiment employed a 2 × 4 factorial design, selecting 96 Songliao Black (SLB) and Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) crossbred finishing pigs (a total of 192 pigs, with an initial body weight of 60.52 ± 4.59 kg) randomly assigned by breed to four dietary treatment groups (A: 2.92% crude fiber; B: 4.82% crude fiber; C: 6.86% crude fiber; D: 9.01% crude fiber). The results showed that DLY finishing pigs had higher final weight (FW), average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in both finishing stages 1 and 2 compared to SLB pigs (p p > 0.05). Compared to the basal diet, increasing the dietary fiber level to 4.82% improved FW and ADG in both SLB and DLY finishing pigs (p p p p p p p p p p 24h and reduced drip loss and shear force in both SLB and DLY finishing pigs (p p < 0.05). In conclusion, FCS is a beneficial source of dietary fiber for SLB and DLY pigs. Its proper addition can enhance the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in fattening pigs.

Keywords

• breed
• dietary fiber
• finishing pig
• nutrient
• growth performance