Rate of Food Passage Studies with Pigs Equally and Ad Libitum Fed Meal and Pellets2

Abstract

Fifty-four rate of food passage determinations were used to evaluate the effect of pelleting on two swine rations. The two rations were fortified corn-soybean meal and 40% oats by weight replacing corn. The 5 and 95% excretion times and the mean particle retention time suggested that pelleted rations passed faster through the alimentary tract than the same rations in meal form. When meal and pellet forms of the 40% oat ration were equally fed, the average 5% excretion time was significantly less with the pellets (p.m. feeding). Average mean retention time was significantly less in the case of high-corn ration as pellets versus the same ration as meal. When the high-corn ration was ad libitum fed, the 95% excretion time indicated the pellets were passed significantly faster than the meal form of the same ration. With pooled data from the two test rations, the average 5% excretion time and average mean retention time were significantly different when meal and pellets were equally fed. When ad libitum fed, the average 95% excretion time and average mean retention time were significantly less in the case of the pelleted rations. Copyright © . .