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Effects of extruded-expelled soybean meal and benzoic acid on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and carcass fat iodine value of finishing pigs

Bromm, J., M. Tokach, J. DeRochey, K. Berg, J. DeJong, C. Pohlen, J. Woodworth, R. Goodband and J. Gebhardt
2023

A total of 2,162 pigs (PIC 1050 × DNA 600; initially 31.4 ± 0.47 kg) were used in a 109-d finishing trial to evaluate the effects of extruded-expelled soybean meal (EESBM) and benzoic acid on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and carcass fat iodine value. Pigs were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 treatments with 27 to 28 pigs per pen and 20 pens per treatment. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of soybean meal source and benzoic acid. Diets contained either conventional soybean meal (SBM) or extruded-expelled soybean meal (EESBM; Lester Feed and Grain, Lester, IA) with or without 0.25% benzoic acid (VevoVitall ,DSM Nutritional Products; Parsippany, NJ). The EESBM was analyzed to be 43.2% CP and 7.73% fat (acid hydrolysis). Experimental diets were not balanced for energy, but rather formulated to the same SID Lys:ME ratio and fed based on a feed budget from d 0 to 109 in 6 phases. Overall (d 0 to 109), there were no interactions between soybean meal source and benzoic acid (P > 0.10). There was a main effect of soybean meal source where pigs fed EESBM had reduced (P = 0.010) ADFI compared to pigs fed conventional SBM without influencing ADG, resulting in increased (P < 0.001) G:F. Also, pigs fed diets with benzoic acid had reduced (P = 0.022) ADFI compared to pigs fed diets without benzoic acid without changes in ADG, resulting in pigs fed benzoic acid having increased (P = 0.006) G:F. When evaluating caloric efficiency, pigs fed diets containing benzoic acid had improved (P < 0.001) metabolizable energy (ME) caloric efficiency compared to pigs fed diets without benzoic acid, with soybean meal source not having any impact. For carcass belly fat IV, pigs fed EESBM had increased (P < 0.001) carcass belly fat iodine value compared to pigs fed conventional SBM.

In summary, replacing conventional SBM with EESBM and the addition of benzoic acid improved feed efficiency. Also, as expected, pigs fed EESBM had a higher carcass belly fat iodine value compared to pigs fed conventional SBM, most likely due to the higher dietary unsaturated fatty acid contribution from EESBM.