Effects of Palm Kernel Expellers on Productive Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and White Blood Cells of Lactating Sows.

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of palm kernel expellers on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and changes in white blood cells (WBC) of lactating sows. A total of 14 sows (200±12 kg of average body weight [BW]; 2.5 of average parity) were used and moved from gestation room to farrowing room on d 109 of gestation. Sows were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. The treatments were a diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and CON added with 20% of palm kernel expellers (PKE). Sows were fed the treatments for 28 days (weaning) after farrowing. Blood was collected from each sow and 4 randomly selected piglets from each sow before farrowing or on d 3, 7, or 14 of lactation. Sows were fed respective treatments containing 0.2% chromic oxide from d 15 to 21 of lactation. Fecal samples were collected daily for the last 3 days after the 4-d adjustment period. Measurements were performances and WBC changes of sows and litter, nutrient digestibility of sows, and daily diarrhea of litter. Sows fed PKE had greater average daily feed intake (7.38 vs 7.10 kg/d; p<0.05) and lost less BW (-6.85 vs -8.54 kg; p<0.05) and backfat depth (-0.42 vs -0.71 mm; p<0.05) than those fed CON. However, there were no differences on digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and energy and weaning to estrus interval of sows fed either CON or PKE. Piglets from sows fed PKE gained more BW (203 vs 181 g/d; p = 0.08) and had less frequency of diarrhea (6.80 vs 8.56%; p = 0.07) than those from sows fed CON. On the other hand, no difference was found on preweaning mortality of piglets from sows fed either CON or PKE. Sows fed PKE had lower number of WBC (9.57 vs 11.82 ×10(3)/μL; p = 0.09) before farrowing than those fed CON, but no difference on d 3 and 7. Similarly, piglets from sows fed PKE had also lower number of WBC (7.86 vs 9.80 ×10(3)/μL; p<0.05) on d 14 of lactation than those from sows fed CON, but no difference on d 3 and 7. In conclusion, addition of 20% palm kernel expellers to lactation diet based on corn and soybean meal had no negative effects on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and WBC changes of lactating sows.

INTRODUCTION

Recently, the cost of traditional ingredients such as corn and soybean meal has markedly increased due to increased biofuel production (Hoffman and Baker, 2011). This change has gradually increased use of cheaper co-products to partially replace corn and/or soybean meal emphasizing their importance in swine diets (Wachenheim et al., 2006).

Several co-product candidates are oilseed meals such as palm kernel meal, palm kernel expellers, copra meal, or so on. Among those candidates, the palm kernel expellers are a co-product from the kernels of oil palm fruits in tropical countries and are produced after the oils of fruits are removed by mechanical pressing extraction (Sulabo et al., 2013). Palm kernel co-products such as palm kernel expellers and meal have been primarily used in ruminant (Singhania et al., 2008) and poultry diets (Ravindran and Blair, 1992), not in swine diets because they contain high fiber content, low energy density, and poor amino acids (AA) composition compared with corn and soybean meal (NRC, 2012).

The nutritional value of palm kernel co-products in swine diets have been evaluated in diets for growing (Son et al., 2012, 2013, 2014; Sulabo et al., 2013) or finishing pigs (Kim et al., 2001; Ao et al., 2011), but there is limited information on the nutritional value of palm kernel co-products in sow diets. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of addition of 20% palm kernel expellers in a typical lactation diet based on corn and soybean meal on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and changes in white blood cells (WBC) of lactating sows.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experimental protocol for this study was reviewed and approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Dankook University.

Experimental design, animals, and diets

A total of 14 lactating sows (Landrace×Yorkshire; 200±12 kg of average body weight [BW]; 2.5 of average parity) were used in this experiment. On d 109 of gestation, sows were moved from gestation crates to farrowing crates equipped with a feeder and waterer in an environmentally controlled farrowing room and randomly assigned to dietary treatments. The dietary treatments were a typical lactation diet based on corn and soybean meal (CON) and CON added with 20% of palm kernel expellers (PKE). The dietary treatments were formulated to meet or exceed the NRC (2012) estimates of nutrient requirements of lactating sows. Palm kernel expellers was added to the diet to replace corn and soybean meal. More fat was also added to the PKE diet to make sure the two diets were formulated with similar metabolizable energy, crude protein, and AA levels (Table 1). Sows were fed 2.5 kg of the dietary treatments from d 109 of gestation until farrowing and allowed free access to the dietary treatments from farrowing until weaning. Diets and water were freely accessible at all times.

Table 1

Composition of experimental diets during lactation (as-fed basis)

Items	Treatments
	CON	PKE
Ingredient (%)
Corn	70.35	50.91
Soybean meal, 48%	27.00	24.55
Palm kernel expellers	-	20.00
Choice white grease	-	2.00
Dicalcium phosphate	1.40	1.15
Limestone	0.85	0.90
Vitamin premix1	0.20	0.20
Mineral premix2	0.20	0.20
L-lysine-HCl	-	0.06
L-threonine	-	0.03
Total	100	100
Analyzed energy and nutrient contents
GE (Mcal/kg)	3.79	3.82
DM (%)	89.23	89.62
CP (%)	19.33	18.54
Ether extract (%)	3.15	5.39
Crude fiber (%)	3.00	5.56
Ash (%)	5.14	5.27
NDF (%)	20.74	32.43
ADF (%)	4.23	11.47
Calculated nutrient contents
ME (Mcal/kg)	3.28	3.32
Calcium (%)	0.76	0.76
Phosphorus (%)	0.64	0.63
Lysine (%)	0.98	0.98
Methionine (%)	0.30	0.30
Threonine (%)	0.70	0.70
Tryptophan (%)	0.22	0.22

CON, control diet based on corn and soybean meal; PKE, CON+20% palm kernel expellers; GE, gross energy; DM, dry matter; CP, crude protein; NDF, neutral detergent fiber; ADF, acid detergent fiber; ME, metabolizable energy.

Provided per kilogram of diet: vitamin A, 10,000 IU; vitamin D3, 2,000 IU; vitamin E, 48 IU; vitamin K3, 1.5 mg; riboflavin, 6 mg; niacin, 40 mg; d-pantothenic acid, 17 mg; biotin, 0.2 mg; folic acid, 2 mg; choline, 166 mg; vitamin B6, 2 mg; and vitamin B12, 28 μg.

Provided per kilogram of diet: Fe, 90 mg from iron sulfate; Cu, 15 mg from copper sulfate; Zn, 50 mg from zinc oxide; Mn, 54 mg from manganese oxide; I, 0.99 mg from potassium iodide; Se, 0.25 mg from sodium selenite.

Data and sample collection

The amount of dietary treatments provided per sow was recorded from farrowing until weaning and feed refusals were weighed and recorded at weaning. Piglets were weaned at 26.7±1.3 d of age. Sow BW and ultrasonic backfat depth at the P2 position (6.0 to 6.5 cm from the dosal midline at the same level as the last rib curve) using a real-time ultrasound instrument (Piglot 105, SFK Technology, Herlev, Denmark) as well as litter weight were measured within 24 h after farrowing and at weaning. Other productive performances were also measured: weaning to estrus interval and litter size (number of born alive and dead piglets). Presence of diarrhea from each pig was checked visually each day and recorded with two scales: presence of diarrhea or not. Frequency of diarrhea was calculated by counting pig days with presence of diarrhea.

Sows were fed respective dietary treatments containing 0.2% chromic oxide as an indigestible marker from d 15 to 21 of lactation. Fecal samples were collected twice daily by rectal palpation for the last 3 days after the 4-d adjustment period. The collected samples were pooled and stored at −20°C until analysis. Diet samples were also collected from each batch of manufactured feed and stored at −20°C until analysis. Whole blood samples were collected from a jugular vein of each sow using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes (Becton Dickinson Vacutainer Systems, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) with anticoagulant before farrowing and on d 3 and 7 of lactation. Four randomly selected piglets (2 barrows and 2 gilts) from each sow were also bled via venipuncture of a jugular vein using EDTA tubes with anticoagulant on d 3, 7, and 14 of lactation.

Sample analyses

Fecal samples were dried in a forced-air drying oven at 60°C and ground through a cyclone mill (Foss Tecator Sycltec 1093, Hillerød, Denmark) before analysis. Diet and fecal samples were analyzed for dry matter (method 930.15; AOAC International, 2005), gross energy using a bomb calorimeter (Parr 1281 Bomb Calorimeter, Parr Instrument Co., Moline, IL, USA), crude protein (method 990.03; AOAC International, 2005), ether extract (method 920.39; AOAC International, 2005), crude fiber (method 978.10; AOAC International, 2005), ash (method 942.05; AOAC International, 2005), neutral detergent fiber (Goering and van Soest, 1970), acid detergent fiber (method 973.18; AOAC International, 2005), and chromium content using an absorption spectrophotometer (Hitachi Z-5000 Absorption Spectrophotometer, Hitachi High-Technologies Co., Tokyo, Japan) based on the report by Williams et al. (1962). Apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and energy was calculated based on the index method (Adeola, 2001). Whole blood samples were analyzed for total WBC counts using a multiparameter, automated hematology analyzer calibrated for porcine blood (scil Vet abc hematology analyzer, scil animal care company, F-67120 Altorf, France).

Statistical analyses

Data were analyzed using the PROC general linear model procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC, USA) in a completely randomized design. The experimental unit was the sow or litter. The statistical model for sow and litter performance, nutrient digestibility of sow, and WBC counts of sow and piglets included effects of dietary treatment and parity as a covariate. The x2 test was used for the frequency of diarrhea. Results are given as means±standard error of the mean. Statistical significance and tendency were considered at p<0.05 and 0.05≤p<0.10, respectively.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Feeding PKE to lactating sows increased (p<0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI) and reduced (p<0.05) BW and backfat depth compared with CON (Table 2). However, there were no differences on weaning to estrus interval and number of weaned piglets of sows fed either CON or PKE. One of the most important points in the management program of lactating sows is the fast recovery of their feed intake because decreased feed intake after farrowing can negatively affect their milk production and maintenance as well as productive performance (Koketsu et al., 1996; Eissen et al., 2000). In addition, lactating sows generally use more energy for milk production and maintenance rather than growth, resulting in loss of their BW or backfat depth or other negative productive performances (Song et al., 2010). In the present experiment, however, the PKE did not negatively affect ADFI and BW and backfat depth changes of sows compared with CON.

Table 2

Productive performance of lactating sows fed dietary treatments1

Items	Treatments		SEM	p-value
	CON	PKE
Parity	2.57	2.42	0.20	0.63
Weaning days (d)	27.29	26.14	0.44	0.09
Feed intake (kg)	193.68	190.62	2.79	0.44
ADFI (kg/d)	7.10	7.38	0.06	< 0.05
Initial BW (kg)	197.63	202.90	4.84	0.46
Final BW (kg)	189.09	194.88	5.35	0.44
BW change (kg)	−8.54	−6.85	0.51	< 0.05
Initial backfat depth (mm)	17.86	17.50	0.57	0.67
Final backfat depth (mm)	17.14	17.17	0.60	0.98
Backfat depth change (mm)	−0.71	−0.42	0.09	< 0.05
Weaning to estrus interval (<d 5, n)	7	7	-	-
Born alive piglets (n)	12.86	12.57	1.06	0.85
Died piglets (n)	1.29	1.29	0.47	1.00
Preweaning mortality (%)	9.30	10.14	3.04	0.85
Weaned piglets (n)	11.57	11.29	0.91	0.83
BW of born piglets (kg)	1.44	1.45	0.08	0.94
BW of weaned piglets (kg)	6.38	6.68	0.24	0.37
Average BW gain of piglets (g/d)	181	203	7.62	0.08

CON, control diet based on corn and soybean meal; PKE, CON+20% palm kernel expellers; SEM, standard error of the mean; ADFI, average daily feed intake; BW, body weight.

Values are presented as the least squares mean of 7 replicates.

There were no differences on apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and energy when lactating sows were fed either CON or PKE (Table 3). Lactating sows fed PKE may be expected to have poor performance and nutrient utilization compared with those fed CON because palm kernel expellers contains greater fiber content than corn or soybean meal (NRC, 2012; Sulabo et al., 2013). In addition, the digestibility of nutrients and energy is likely decreased as the concentration of fiber content in swine diets is increased (Noblet and Perez, 1993). Previous studies also showed palm kernel expellers, palm kernel meal, or diets containing those ingredients decreased crude protein or energy digestibility of growing or finishing pigs compared with soybean meal or corn-soybean meal based diets (Son et al., 2012; Sulabo et al., 2013), resulting in reduced growth performance (Kim et al., 2001; Ao et al., 2011). The data from present experiment cannot be directly compared with the data from previous studies mentioned above because the data from present experiment was for sows rather than growing-finishing pigs. However, the present experiment did not find any negative effects on nutrient digestibility as well as productive performance when sows were fed the lactation diet containing palm kernel expellers as partial replacement of corn and soybean meal. The reason for this observation may be related to a greater capacity for microbial fermentation in sows, which may contribute to better fiber digestion and energy utilization (Renteria-Flores et al., 2008), than that of grow-finishing pigs. In addition, it may be related to relatively greater fat content in PKE, which may contribute to increased retention time in the intestine (Cervantes-Pahm and Stein, 2008), compared with CON in the present experiment.

Table 3

Effects of palm kernel expellers on apparent total tract digestibility, number of white blood cells, and frequency of diarrhea1

Items	Treatments		SEM	p-value
	CON	PKE
Apparent total tract digestibility of sows
Dry matter (%)	72.36	75.75	2.35	0.33
Nitrogen (%)	61.48	62.79	3.77	0.81
Energy (%)	68.32	73.97	2.61	0.15
Number of white blood cells of sows (×103/μL)
Before farrowing	11.82	9.57	0.83	0.09
d 3 of lactation	11.71	10.09	2.35	0.63
d 7 of lactation	12.70	11.48	1.43	0.56
Frequency of diarrhea of nursery pigs (%)2	8.56	6.80	-	0.07
Number of white blood cells of nursery pigs (×103/μL)
d 3 of lactation	9.24	8.36	0.92	0.52
d 7 of lactation	11.15	8.87	1.40	0.27
d 14 of lactation	9.80	7.86	0.62	<0.05

CON, control diet based on corn and soybean meal; PKE, CON+20% palm kernel expellers; SEM, standard error of the mean.

Values are presented as the least squares mean of 7 replicates for sows and nursery pigs (4 nursery pigs/replicate).

Frequency of diarrhea of nursery pigs = (number of diarrhea/number of nursery pig days)×100. Data was analyzed by the x2 test.

Feeding PKE to lactating sows tended (p<0.10) to increase average body weight gain of piglets compared with CON (Table 2). As mentioned above, milk production of lactating sows is also very important because it can directly affect litter performance. In addition, previous studies showed an increased fat content in sow diets increased milk fat contents (Pettigrew, 1981; Lauridsen and Danielsen, 2004), resulting in improvement of piglet performance (Lauridsen and Danielsen, 2004). Similarly, the present experiment showed increased average weight gain of piglets from sows fed PKE compared with CON. The reason for this observation may be associated with relatively greater fat content in PKE compared with CON, which may have contributed to greater fat contents in milk.

No difference was found on preweaning mortality of piglets from sows fed either PKE or CON during lactation (Table 2). However, frequency of diarrhea of piglets tended (p<0.10) to be reduced by feeding PKE to lactating sows compared with CON (Table 3). Moreover, the PKE decreased WBC of sows before farrowing (p<0.10) and their piglets on d 14 of lactation (p<0.05) compared with CON. Generally, the WBC counts are one of the typical indicators of inflammation (Gordon-Smith, 2009) that can affect appetite or feed intake and nutrient competition between immune system and growth (Doeschl-Wilson et al., 2009). In addition, previous studies showed that palm kernel expellers contained relatively greater β-mannans compared with other oil-seed co-products and conventional ingredients (Sulabo et al., 2013) and that mannanoligosaccharides in swine diets influenced immune system and growth and productive performances positively (Miguel et al., 2004; Pettigrew et al., 2005; Che et al., 2011). The reason for the reduced WBC by feeding PKE is possibly related to relatively greater β-mannans in PKE compared with CON, which may contribute to reduced inflammation of sows before and after farrowing (Otten et al., 2013). Furthermore, energy from this reduced inflammation may contribute to milk (colostrum and/or milk) production and then to health and performance of piglets.

To our knowledge, the present experiment is the first to show the effects of palm kernel expellers in lactating sow diets and thus there are little corresponding data to compare with our findings. Therefore, more research is needed to determine effects of palm kernel expellers in sow diets and to verify its assumed mechanisms in productive performance and health standpoints that were not determined in the present experiment.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, addition of 20% palm kernel expellers to lactation diet based on corn and soybean meal had no negative effects on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, and WBC changes of lactating sows.