The objectives were to determine effects of a hatchery byproduct mixture (HBM) on growth performance and to measure digestible energy concentrations in various HBM. In the growth performance experiment, 96 pigs (initial body weight = 9.6 ± 0.8 kg) were assigned to 4 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with 6 blocks. Each treatment consisted of 6 replicate pens with 4 pigs comprising 2 barrows and 2 gilts. Pigs were fed graded concentrations of HBM at 0%, 3.33%, 6.67%, and 10.00% for 14 days. In the energy digestibility experiment, 10 barrows (initial body weight = 11.5 ± 0.4 kg) were employed to determine digestible energy in HBM. A basal diet based on corn and soybean meal and 4 additional diets containing 25% of 4 different HBM were prepared. The marker-to-marker method was employed for total collection and the experimental design was a replicated 5 × 4 Latins square design. Growth performance was not compromised as the inclusion rate of HBM increased up to 10%. Digestible energy of HBM ranged from 2772 to 3887 kcal/kg as-is basis. In conclusion, HBM can be used in nursery pig diets and different energy values should be used for each HBM.
Keywords: energy; growth performance; hatchery byproduct mixture; swine.