Protein Efficiency of Corn by-Products and Other Protein Feeds for Swine Growth

Abstract

The quality of protein in corn oil meal, corn steep water solubles, soybean oil meal, tankage, and corn gluten meal was evaluated with pigs by using semi-purified rations containing 11% of a single source protein. Dried whole egg and dried skimmilk served as the source of protein in the control rations. The protein efficiency was expressed as pounds gained per pound of protein consumed. In the first experiment, dried whole egg supported faster pig growth and returned a higher protein efficiency than corn oil meal. The pigs receiving corn solubles lost weight and could not survive without an additional source of protein. Dried skimmilk supported the most rapid pig growth in the second experiment. Corn oil meal and soybean oil meal were intermediate as far as growth was concerned, and the combination of equal parts of corn solubles and soybean meal resulted in slow growth. Corn oil meal showed the highest protein efficiency followed in order by dried skimmilk, soybean oil meal, and the soybean oil meal-corn solubles mix. In the last experiment there was a significant difference in growth rate between all lots. Dried skimmilk was superior, followed by corn oil meal, tankage and corn gluten meal in that order. The quality of protein as measured by protein efficiency was highest for skimmilk. Corn oil meal, tankage and corn gluten meal followed in that order.