The effect of the method of dietary oil addition to pelleted diets on performance and nutrient digestibility in finishing pigs

Abstract The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of method of vegetable oil blend application, either sprayed onto (SP) or incorporated within (IN) pelleted diets, on the performance and coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of dietary components in finishing pigs. A secondary aim was to evaluate the source of energy, i.e. starch vs oil on pig performance and the CTTAD. Diets were formulated from either by-products (maize gluten, maize gluten feed, pollards and rapeseed) or cereals (barley and wheat) to which vegetable oil was added (g/kg) in two different ways: 40 (IN) or 30 (SP) + 10 (IN). Two studies were conducted. In study 1, 48 Large White × Landrace pigs (average weight 50.4 kg, SD 3.5 kg) on a research herd were used to determine CTTAD of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), lipid, energy and phosphorus and digestible energy (DE) content. In study 2, 960 Landrace × Large White pigs on a commercial herd, housed in groups of 20 from 14 to 24 weeks of age, were used to assess production performance and carcass characteristics. Oil addition (40IN and 10IN + 30SP) increased the CTTAD of lipid and phosphorus (both P P P P P P P P P P P