The objective of this research was to compare DE and ME values and values for the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy and nutrients of the 11 diets in growing pigs and gestating sows. Two experiments were conducted to determine digestibility of energy and ATTD of nutrients for diets containing corn, wheat, sorghum, SBM, canola meal, conventional distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), low-fat DDGS, corn germ meal, corn bran, wheat middlings, or soybean hulls in growing pigs and gestating sows. Results indicated that apparent digestibility values of energy and CP, and DE and ME values obtained in gestating sows are greater than values obtained in growing pigs, but apparent digestibility of fiber obtained in growing pigs is not different from values obtained in gestating sows. Pork producers can take advantage of the results from this research when formulating diets for sows and growing pigs and prediction equations calculated from this work may assist in formulating diets for gestating sows.       
For more information, please contact Dr. Hans H. Stein (email: [email protected])