Evaluation of different dietary electrolyte balance in weanling pigs diets

A total of 160 weanling pigs ((Duroc × Landrace) × Yorkshire; average initial body weight of 7.67 ± 0.97 kg, 28 ± 1 d of age) were allotted into 1 of 4 treatments to determine effects of dietary electrolyte balance (dEB, Na + K − Cl mEq/kg of the diet) on growth performance and nutrient digestibility. Pigs were fed 4 diets with different dEB levels: 0, 83, 166, and 250 mEq/kg of dEB for 4 weeks. Various dEB values were obtained by altering the concentrations of calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, and sodium bicarbonate. Pigs fed diets with dEB of 166 and 250 mEq/kg exhibited greater average daily gain (ADG) than those fed 0 mEq/kg diet throughout the experiment (P < 0.05). During d 14-28 and d 0-28, the average daily feed intake (ADFI) was greater in 166 and 250 mEq/kg dietary treatments compared with 0 mEq/kg dietary treatment (P < 0.05). However, no difference was observed on gain to feed ratio between dietary treatments throughout the experiment (P > 0.05). 166 and 250 mEq/kg dietary treatments had greater apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter and nitrogen compared with 0 mEq/kg dietary treatment (P < 0.05). There was no effect on ATTD of gross energy between dietary treatments (P > 0.05). Taken together, these results suggested that weanling pigs obtained optimal growth performance and nutrient digestibility when fed diets with dEB in the range of 166-250 mEq/kg.