Effects of fermented grains as raw cereal substitutes on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and fecal noxious gas emission in growing pigs

Three experiments (Exps.) were conducted to evaluate the effects of fermented oat (FO), corn (FC), and wheat (FW) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and fecal noxious gas emission in growing pigs. In Exp. 1, a total of 125 pigs [(Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc] were fed control diet (FO0) with 20% of unfermented oat (UFO), and diets with 25% (FO25), 50% (FO50), 75% (FO75), and 100% (FO100) FO to replace UFO for 2 wks. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM and energy was increased (P<0.05) in FO50, FO75, and FO100 treatments compared with FO0 and FO25 treatments. In Exp. 2, a total of 96 pigs were randomly allotted to four treatments consisting of control (FC0) with 57.05% unfermented corn (UFC), 10% (FC10), 20% (FC20), and 30% (FC30) FC to replace UFC for 6 wks. The ATTD of DM and energy in FC20 was highest (P<0.05) among treatments. The concentration of glucose in FC10 treatment was decreased (P<0.05) compared with that in FC0 and FC20 treatments. Pigs fed FC20 and FC30 diets had lower (P<0.05) fecal H2S and acetic acid emission than pigs fed FC0 diet. In Exp. 3, a total of 120 growing pigs were fed control diet (FW0) with 20% of unfermented wheat (UFW), and diets with 25% (FW25), 50% (FW50), 75% (FW75), and 100% (FW100) FW to replace UFW for 6 wks. Pigs fed FW75 diet had higher (P<0.05) ADG than those fed FW0 and FW25 diets. The ATTD of DM and N were increased by FW50, FW75, and FW100 treatments compared with FW0 treatment. In conclusion, results indicate that substitution with 20-75% of comparable fermented grains has variable effects on growth performance and nutrient digestibility, and decrease fecal noxious gas emission of growing pigs and the source of fermented grains may be the major factor in explaining this variation.