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Hybrid Rye for Nursery Pigs
Hybrid Rye for Nursery Pigs
Why Hybrid Rye?
- Similar standardized ileal digestible amino acids compared with corn
- Improved total tract digestibility of phosphorus due to naturally high phytase levels
- High content of fermentable dietary fibers including fructooligosaccharides which improve gut health
- Increased production of butyrate, reduced pH in the large intestine, and proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the gut
- SCFA’s derived from rye can boost gut immunity and reduce salmonella in gut wall attachment
- Recommended Inclusion Levels
- For maximum performance and efficiency hybrid rye can be included at up to 20% of the diet in nursery diets. Higher inclusion levels, up to 30% of diet, may be utilized without affecting growth. However, due to a lower ME content of hybrid rye, this typically results in increased feed intake and decreased efficiency. Always test for ergot contamination when including high levels of hybrid rye in swine diets!
Recommended Inclusion Levels
For maximum performance and efficiency hybrid rye can be included at up to 40% of the diet DM in nursery diets. Higher inclusion levels, up to 60% of diet DM, may be utilized without effecting growth. However, due to a lower ME content of hybrid rye, this typically results in increased intakes and decreased efficiency. Always test for ergot contamination when including high levels of hybrid rye in nursery diets!
Hybrid Rye Feeding Strategies
Hybrid rye is a highly palatable feed ingredient that promotes excellent feed intake in swine diets! However, when introducing nursery pigs to hybrid rye, it is recommended to start with lower inclusion levels (10-15%) and then step-up to higher levels over time. Particle size should be between 500 and 600 microns and very fine particles should be avoided to prevent gut ulceration or respiratory problems from dusty feed.
