This study evaluated organic acid (OA) preservation of wheat and barley as an alternative to artificial drying and investigated its effects on grain quality, gut health, and growth performance of post-weaned pigs. A total of 192 pigs were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement examining grain preservation method (artificially dried vs. OA-preserved) and zinc oxide (ZnO) supplementation (0 vs. ZnO) for 35 days. OA preservation reduced grain pH and mycotoxin concentrations, including deoxynivalenol in wheat and barley and ochratoxin A and HT-2 toxin in barley. Pigs fed OA-preserved grain had greater average daily gain and body weight (P < 0.01) and lower faecal scores and diarrhoea incidence (P < 0.05) than those fed artificially dried grain. ZnO increased feed intake and body weight in pigs fed artificially dried grain but did not improve performance in pigs fed OA-preserved grain. Among pigs receiving non-ZnO diets, OA preservation increased apparent ileal digestibility of nitrogen and gross energy (P < 0.05), reduced colonic branched-chain volatile fatty acids (P < 0.05), and favourably modulated gut microbial composition. Overall, OA preservation improved grain quality, nutrient digestibility, gut health, and growth performance, supporting its potential as an alternative grain preservation strategy for post-weaned pigs.
- Maher, S., T. Sweeney, D. P. Kiernan, M. T. Ryan, V. Gath, S. Vigors, K. R. Connolly,
and J. V. O’Doherty. 2024. Organic acid preservation of cereal grains improves grain quality, growth performance, and intestinal health of post-weaned pigs. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 316:116078. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2024.116078
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