The Effects of Dietary Biotite V Supplementation on Growth Performance, Nutrients Digestibility and Fecal Noxious Gas Content in Finishing Pigs

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary Biotite V (BV) supplementation on growth performance, nutrients digestibility and fecal noxious gas content in finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, a total of eighty pigs (initial body weight 88.0${\pm}$1.35 kg) were used in a 35-d growth trial. Pigs were blocked by weight and allotted to five dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. There were four pigs per pen and four pens per treatment. Dietary treatments included: 1) Control (CON; basal diet), 2) 200 mesh BV1.0 (basal diet+200 mesh Biotite V 1.0%), 3) 325 mesh BV1.0 (basal diet+325 mesh Biotite V 1.0%), 4) 200 mesh BV2.0 (basal diet+200 mesh Biotite V 2.0%) and 5) 325 mesh BV2.0 (basal diet+325 mesh Biotite V 2.0%). Through the entire experimental period, there were no significant differences in ADG, ADFI and gain/feed among the treatments (p>0.05). With the addition of Biotite V in diet, DM and N digestibilities were increased significantly (p<0.01). Also, Ca and P digestibilities tended to increase in pigs fed Biotite V supplemented diet (p<0.01) compared to pigs fed control diet. Supplementation of Biotite V in diet reduced the fecal $NH_3-N$ and volatile fatty acid (VFA) compared to CON treatment (p<0.01). In Exp. 2, a total of sixty four pigs (initial body weight 84.0${\pm}$1.05 kg) were used in a 35-d growth trial. Pigs were blocked by weight and allotted to four dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. There were four pigs per pen and four pens per treatment. Dietary treatments included: 1) LP (low protein diet), 2) HP (high protein diet), 3) LP+BV (low protein diet+325 mesh Biotite V 1.0%) and 4) HP+BV (high protein diet+325 mesh Biotite V 1.0%). Through the entire experimental period, ADG and gain/feed tended to increase in HP and HP+BV treatments, however, there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among the treatments. With the addition of Biotite V in diets, digestibilities of nutrients (DM, N, Ca and P) were increased significantly (p<0.01). The addition of Biotite V in diets reduced the ammonia emissions in feces (p<0.01). Supplementation of Biotite V in diets also reduced the fecal propionic acid, butyric acid and acetic acid (p<0.01) compared to pigs fed diets without Biotite V. In conclusion, supplementation of Biotite V can increase nutrients digestibility and reduce fecal $NH_3-N$ and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in finishing pigs.