|
|
Effects of soybean particle size on growth performance of nursery pigs. Researchers at Kansas State University conducted two studies
comparing the effects of soybean meal particle size on pig performance.
The young pigs (35±3 days of age) were weaned at 21 days and
fed standard diets for 14 days. Six pigs per pen, ten pens per treatment
were fed diets containing 61.9% corn, 34.4% soybean meal and 3.7 vitamins
and minerals. The treatments consisted of the extruded-expelled soybean
meal ground to 965,742 or 639 um. Reducing the particle size of the
extruded-expelled soybean meal did not affect average daily gain, average
daily feed intake or gain:feed ratio during the 21-day experiment. In
a second experiment, solvent extracted soybean meal was ground to 1,226,
787 or 444 um. Again, soybean meal particle size did not affect average
daily gains, feed consumption or feed utilization. The researchers reported
that the reducing the particle size of the two soybean meal sources
did increase the angle of repose, indicating reduced flow ability characteristics
of the soybean meal. The particle size of the soybean meal had only
minimal effects on the flow characteristics of the mixed diet.
|
