A precise understanding of the nutritive value of soybean meal (SBM) for pregnant sow is required for accurate feeding. Hence, we evaluated the nutritive value of 11 SBM samples from different sources for sows during mid and late gestation. In total, 24 mid-gestating sows (parity three; 230.3 ± 12.0 kg on day 37 of gestation) and 24 late-gestating sows (parity three; 238.8 ± 20.9 kg on day 72 of gestation) were assigned to a replicated 12 × 3 Youden square design with 12 diets and 3 periods. The 12 diets included a corn-based diet and 11 diets containing 25.50% SBMs from different sources. After 5-d adaptation, urine and feces were collected for 5 d. Although the chemical characteristics of SBM varied between samples, no differences were observed in digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter, gross energy, crude fiber, and neutral detergent fiber values in SBMs fed to both animal groups. However, de-hulled SBM 4 from Brazil displayed greater ATTD for nitrogen (N) in late-gestating sows (P < 0.05); animals displayed significantly (P < 0.01) greater ME, ME:DE ratio, and N net utilization values when compared with mid-gestating sows. The chemical composition of SBMs can be used to predict DE and ME values. In conclusion, ME, ME:DE ratio, and N net utilization SBM values for late-gestating sows were greater than in mid-gestating sows. Therefore, we should consider differences in ME values for SBMs when formulating diets for sows in mid and late gestation periods.
Keywords: digestibility; late gestation; mid gestation; prediction; sows; soybean meal.
Soybean meal (SBM) is the most commonly used protein source in swine diets, with high available energy. Sows have crucial roles in the pig industry, therefore precise knowledge of actual SBM nutritive values at different gestation stages is vital for efficient livestock production and management. In our study, we evaluated the nutritive value of SBMs from different sources in mid- and late-gestating sows, and generated prediction equations for digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) values. We identified no differences in DE and ME values in SBMs from different sources when fed to sows during mid- and late gestation. However, regardless of the pregnancy stage, DE and ME SBM values for sows, identified in this study, were greater than values published by NRC (2012). Also, ME, ME:DE ratio, and nitrogen (N) net utilization SBM values for late-gestating sows were greater than in mid-gestating sows. The chemical composition of SBMs can be used to predict DE and ME values. Our study data can be used to accurately formulate diets for pregnant sows.
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