Evaluating Inclusion Levels of Soybean Hulls in Finishing Pig Diets

Purdue University 2000 Swine Research Report. Soybean hulls are a by-product of soybean processing that is low in energy and protein content. The addition of soybean hulls to swine diets has been shown to increase the feed to gain ratio when added at 12 to 24% of the diet with little or no effect on ADG. Todays pigs have lower feed intake than pigs 10 to 15 years ago and have higher lean gain per day. With these lower feed intakes in todays genetics, one question that needs evaluation is: do todays pigs have the capacity to adjust feed intake when fed a more dilute energy diet to maintain similar body weight gains? This trial was conducted to reevaluate the amount of fiber/energy dilution that todays grow-finish pig could utilize without reducing ADG. This trial was conducted in the fall of 1999.