Abstract
A total of 125 pigs (5.8 kg BW, 21 d of age) were allotted in a completely randomized block design experiment. Dietary treatment added carbohydrate sources : corn starch, lactose, glucose, sucrose or dried whey in corn-soybean meal based diet. Each treatment has 5 replicates with 5 pigs per replicate. Lactose, sucrose and dried whey supported a better growth performance than starch and glucose (p < 0.05) during the first and second week postweaning. However, in the third week postweaning no difference was found in ADG and ADFI among treatment. For overall period, pigs fed lactose, sucrose and dried whey diets showed similar growth performance and were superior to starch and glucose. The gross energy digestibility in pigs fed lactose, sucrose and dried whey diets were similar and significantly higher than those fed glucose and starch diets (p < 0.05). DM digestibility was not significantly affected by other carbohydrate sources except starch. Pigs fed lactose, sucrose and dried whey showed the best nitrogen digestibility. In all nutrients digestibility, there was no significant difference among treatment except starch and glucose diet. DM excretion was lower in pigs fed lactose, sucrose and dried whey than pigs fed starch and glucose. In conclusion, it appeared that sucrose could be effectively incorporated in baby pig diet without sacrificing growth performance.