Dietary Supplementation of Attapulgite Improves Growth Performance in Pigs from Weaning to Slaughter
The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of attapulgite on the performance of fattening pigs from weaning to slaughter under field conditions in three commercial farrow to finish herds. In total 1890 pigs were used for six months: 720 pigs in Farms...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/10/557 |
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| author | Vasileios Kanoulas Georgios A. Papadopoulos Panagiotis Tassis Georgia Koutouzidou Georgios Arsenos Paschalis Fortomaris |
| author_facet | Vasileios Kanoulas Georgios A. Papadopoulos Panagiotis Tassis Georgia Koutouzidou Georgios Arsenos Paschalis Fortomaris |
| author_sort | Vasileios Kanoulas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of attapulgite on the performance of fattening pigs from weaning to slaughter under field conditions in three commercial farrow to finish herds. In total 1890 pigs were used for six months: 720 pigs in Farms A and B, respectively and 450 pigs in Farm C. The pigs were equally allocated in three dietary treatments: CON, standard diet in each growing phase; ATT, standard diet that was supplemented with attapulgite at 7 kg/tn of feed; and ATT+, standard diet that was supplemented with 8 kg/tn of feed with a compound product based on attapulgite. Pigs that were fed diets that were supplemented with attapulgite (ATT and ATT+) had significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI) and a better feed conversion ratio (FCR), compared to the control (CON). In conclusion, attapulgite supplementation in the diet of pigs from weaning to slaughter can improve their performance in commercial farms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:24:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a3127fa67eea403dbe4d1397e4dd6d6d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:24:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a3127fa67eea403dbe4d1397e4dd6d6d2023-11-24T03:06:38ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812022-10-0191055710.3390/vetsci9100557Dietary Supplementation of Attapulgite Improves Growth Performance in Pigs from Weaning to SlaughterVasileios Kanoulas0Georgios A. Papadopoulos1Panagiotis Tassis2Georgia Koutouzidou3Georgios Arsenos4Paschalis Fortomaris5Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceClinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceInstitute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceThe objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of attapulgite on the performance of fattening pigs from weaning to slaughter under field conditions in three commercial farrow to finish herds. In total 1890 pigs were used for six months: 720 pigs in Farms A and B, respectively and 450 pigs in Farm C. The pigs were equally allocated in three dietary treatments: CON, standard diet in each growing phase; ATT, standard diet that was supplemented with attapulgite at 7 kg/tn of feed; and ATT+, standard diet that was supplemented with 8 kg/tn of feed with a compound product based on attapulgite. Pigs that were fed diets that were supplemented with attapulgite (ATT and ATT+) had significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI) and a better feed conversion ratio (FCR), compared to the control (CON). In conclusion, attapulgite supplementation in the diet of pigs from weaning to slaughter can improve their performance in commercial farms.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/10/557pigsattapulgiteclaysgrowthfeed efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Vasileios Kanoulas Georgios A. Papadopoulos Panagiotis Tassis Georgia Koutouzidou Georgios Arsenos Paschalis Fortomaris Dietary Supplementation of Attapulgite Improves Growth Performance in Pigs from Weaning to Slaughter Veterinary Sciences pigs attapulgite clays growth feed efficiency |
| title | Dietary Supplementation of Attapulgite Improves Growth Performance in Pigs from Weaning to Slaughter |
| title_full | Dietary Supplementation of Attapulgite Improves Growth Performance in Pigs from Weaning to Slaughter |
| title_fullStr | Dietary Supplementation of Attapulgite Improves Growth Performance in Pigs from Weaning to Slaughter |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dietary Supplementation of Attapulgite Improves Growth Performance in Pigs from Weaning to Slaughter |
| title_short | Dietary Supplementation of Attapulgite Improves Growth Performance in Pigs from Weaning to Slaughter |
| title_sort | dietary supplementation of attapulgite improves growth performance in pigs from weaning to slaughter |
| topic | pigs attapulgite clays growth feed efficiency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/10/557 |
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