Effect of feeding extruded corn on growth performance of nursery pigs

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of feeding extruded corn on growth performance of nursery pigs. One hundred and ninety two, D X LW X LR crossbred 4 weeks old pigs were randomly assigned into 4 dietary treatments. Including, 1) mash feed using containing broken rice as a source of carbohydrate; 2) mash feed using containing conventional corn as a source of carbohydrate; 3) mash feed using containing extruded corn as a source of carbohydrate and 4) pellet feed using containing extruded corn as a source of carbohydrate. Each treatment consisted of 6 replications with 4 male and 4 female pigs per replication in Completely Randomized Design (CRD), respectively. Mash diet containing extruded corn had lower bulk density than the other groups (P < 0.001). However, pelleting process significantly increased bulk density of this diet (P < 0.001). Enzyme susceptibility of mash feed containing extruded corn higher (P < 0.01) than those of broken rice and conventional corn containing diet. Pellet process, however, increase enzyme susceptibility of the diet (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in daily weight gain, daily feed intake, and feed gain ration among treatments.