Effects of non-genetically modified organism wheat-based diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profile, and meat quality in grower-finisher pigs

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary non-genetically modified organism (non-GMO) wheat-based diets on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profile and meat quality of grower-finisher pigs. A total of 70 [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] growing pigs with an initial body weight of 26.15 ± 1.57 kg were used in a 112 day trial. The dietary treatments were as follows: (I) CD, corn-based diet and (II) non-GMO WD, a non-genetically modified organism wheat-based diet. Each treatment consisted of 7 replicate pens with 5 pigs per pen. In the current study, the pigs fed the corn-based diet had a higher body weight than the pigs fed the non-GMO wheat-based diet at day 21 and day 77 (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the average daily gain (ADG) during the first 21 days (p < 0.05). The non-GMO wheat-based diet had no effect on nutrient digestibility. In addition, the non-GMO wheat-based diet had no effect on the blood profile except for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) at d 21. In conclusion, the non-GMO wheat-based diet only had a slight effect on the growth performance of growing pigs but had no significant impact on the nutrient digestibility, fecal score, blood profile and meat quality of the pigs during the grower-finisher period.