Effects of Feeding High Oil Corns to Growing-Finishing Swine

Abstract

Increasing the amount of corn oil in diets for growing swine, either by adding 3 or 12% refined corn oil to corn-soybean meal diets or by utilizing corns containing 6.7 to 8.4% oil, did not significantly affect rate of gain but resulted in a highly significant (P<.01) decrease in feed/gain when corn oil was added. A significant (P<.05) reduction in feed/gain occurred when one of the two high oil corn diets was fed. The greater protein content of the high oil corns, found to be equal to regular corn in quality of protein on the basis of amino acid analysis, also permitted a saving in supplementary soybean meal. No significant differences in percent ham and loin of cold carcass weight, backfat thickness or longissimus muscle area were found due to the dietary treatments. The high oil diets did cause increased deposition of linoleic acid and noticeably softer carcasses, although the softening effect was moderate except for diets containing 12% added corn oil.