Effects of inclusion levels of dietary vitamins and trace minerals on growth performance and pork stability in finishing pigs

A total of one hundred twenty pigs (L x Y x D, 50+/-0.78 kg) were employed for a 7-week feeding trial to determine the effect of inclusion levels of vitamin and mineral (VTM) premixes on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and pork stability in finishing pigs. Treatments were 100% (Control), 150%, 200%, and 250% of NRC (1998) requirements. Increasing dietary VTM premixes in finishing pigs had a linear (p<0.05) effect on ADG. It also had a linear effect (p<0.05) on the digestibility of calcium and a linear and quadratic effect (p<0.05) on the digestibility of phosphorus. As dietary VTM levels were increased from 100 to 250% NRC (1998), TEARS values of pork samples were linearly (p<0.05) lowered when stored at 1 degrees C for 2 or 3 weeks. There was also a trend reducing POV of pig meat as dietary VTM level was increased. In conclusion, it would appear that inclusion of VTM premixes at the level of 200-250% of NRC (1998) requirements gave positive effects on growth performance and pork stability in finishing pigs.