Effects of Soybean Hulls on Pig Performance, Manure Composition, and Air Quality

Purdue Univeristy 2001 Swine Research Report. Environmental concerns of pork production have recently been highly debated topics among federal, state, and local governments and communities. With increasing pressure for sustaining and improving our environment, many producers and researchers alike are searching for methods to minimize the environmental impacts of meat production. One such method that has been researched is dietary manipulation to reduce unfavorable emissions from swine facilities. Soybean hulls (SH) are an inexpensive by-product of soybean processing that is high in fiber and low in energy and protein content. Past research has demonstrated that fiber additions can have a positive impact on manure nitrogen retention, odor production, aerial pit emissions, and volatile fatty acid production. However, adding fiber to the ration of growing pigs without supplemental energy may hinder growth performance. Therefore, this study was conducted to quantify the effects of feeding soybean hulls with supplemental fat addition during the finisher phase on average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed efficiency (G:F), 10th rib backfat thickness, loin depth, aerial ammonia concentration (AAC), hydrogen sulfide (HS), odor detection threshold (ODT), and manure characteristics; pH, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and volatile fatty concentrations (VFA).