Evaluation of commercially available enzymes, probiotics, or yeast on apparent total-tract nutrient digestion and growth in nursery and finishing pigs fed diets containing corn dried distillers grains with solubles

The ability of enzymes, direct-fed microbials, or yeast to enhance nutrient utilization or growth performance in nursery or finishing pigs fed diets containing increased levels of fiber from corn distillers dried grains with solubles is largely unknown. A total of 192 nursery (11.9 kg initial BW) and 96 finishing (98.4 kg initial BW) pigs were allotted to individual pens and fed their respective diets for 5 wk. Diets containing corn, soybean meal, and 30% corn distillers dried grains with solubles were adequate in all nutrients and were offered ad libitum in meal form. Additives were included at the recommended rates and were assumed to contain the active ingredients and activity level listed on the product label. In the starter experiment, Allzyme and Releezyme decreased GE, N, C, P, ADF, and NDF digestibility (P < 0.05), whereas Econase decreased S, P, and NDF digestibility (P < 0.05). In the finisher experiment, Allzyme increased P digestibility (P < 0.05), BactoCel decreased N digestibility (P = 0.05), BioPlus2B decreased ether extract digestibility (P < 0.05), Hemicel decreased ADF digestibility (P < 0.05), Porzyme decreased GE, N, C, S, P, ADF, and NDF digestibility (P < 0.05), Releezyme decreased GE, N, C, S, P, ADF, and ether extract digestibility (P < 0.05), and XPC yeast decreased GE and C digestibility (P = 0.05). No effect on nursery- or finishing-pig growth performance because of any feed additive was noted (P > 0.10). In conclusion, even though some of the feed additive products evaluated had small effects on nutrient digestibility, none of the products affected starter- and finishing-pig growth performance when fed nutritionally adequate corn-soy diets containing 30% corn distillers dried grains with solubles.