The influence of “Primix-Alfasorb” on the digestibility of nutrients of breeding gilts

Larisa CAISIN 1), Ludmila BIVOL 1), A. COVALENCO2)

1)
The State Agrarian University of Moldova: 44, Mircesti Street, Chisinau, MD 2049,
+(373) 22 432-383, caisinlarisa@mail.ru
2)
Scientific and Production Enterprise "Ariadne": 8a, Motornaia Street, Odessa, 65085, Ukraine

ABSTRACT
The aim of the research was to study the effects of different levels of the adsorbent additive
“Primix-Alfasorb” on the nutrient digestibility of the experimental pigs. The experiment was
conducted in the April 2011 at the State Enterprise for Pig Breeding and Hybridization
“Moldsuinhibrid”. Four groups of three pigs each were formed. The distinguishing feature of the
feeding of the pigs in the experimental groups was that the basic mixed fodder was supplemented
with “Primix-Alfasorb” in the quantities of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 kg/t respectively in EG 1, EG2 and EG3.
The results showed that the adsorbent “Primix-Alfasorb” had a positive effect on the digestibility of
nutrients. It should also be mentioned that there were not statistically significant differences in the
digestibility of dry and organic matter. It was established that in the experimental groups the
digestibility of crude fat increased; a significant deviation of this indicator was observed in EG 1
(P<0.05) in which the fodder was supplemented with the drug at the level of 0.2 kg/t. It was also
observed that the use of Extractive non-nitrogenous substances (ENS) improved by 2.04 and 2.06 %
in the experimental groups EG2 and EG3 compared with the control group (P<0.01 and P<0.05). The
optimal level of the supplementation of the mixed fodder for pigs with the adsorbent “Primix-
Alfasorb” was of 0.2 kg/t.

Key words: breeding gilts, digestibility, mycotoxins, adsorbent

INTRODUCTION
In the organization of the feeding of farm animals it is important not only to balance the
rations in accordance with the energy nutrition and the content of all nutrients, but also to create an
environmentally safe production of agricultural products. Special attention is paid to the quality of
pork, which is of great importance in all the large population diets (Kokov, 1998).
In modern livestock mycotoxins are still the natural contaminants of the raw fodders and food
products.
Mycotoxins are the waste products of the ubiquitous microscopic (mould) fungi capable of
hitting fodders at all the stages of their production, processing and storage. It is believed that at least
25% of all fodder resources is subject to the contamination by mycotoxins or to the damaging action
of molds (Osikina and Teziev, 2000).
Cardiovascular and immune systems are those which particularly strongly suffer from
mycotoxicosis. Against the background of the deterioration of the immune system, the chance that
the animal contract viral or bacterial infections increases (Connolly and O 'Sullivan, 2005; Gabruk
et al., 2005; Antipov and Vasiliev, 2007) and the effectiveness of specific prevention dramatically
lowers.
The productivity of pigs also greatly depends on the use and digestibility of the nutrients
which the animals receive with the mixed fodder. The digestibility of the nutrients in the fodder can
be improved using adsorbents that improve the assimilation of nutrients and reduce the
consumption of energy in the body, thus increasing the body weight (Timofeev et al., 2005).
Recent research on the risk mitigation of the presence of mycotoxins in fodders is aimed at
reducing their access to the body. The mixture of fodders and adsorbents for the absorption
reduction of mycotoxins from the gastrointestinal tract, is investigated as a way to protect animals
from the harmful effects of mycotoxins present in fodders (Kabak et al., 2006), and to reduce the
number of mycotoxins in the food of animal origin.
 It is known that enterosorbents prevent the absorption of toxins from the digestive tract. That
is why, it is necessary to find low-cost and effective means of removing toxic substances from the
body of pigs, which will permit to receive ecologically pure products.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The researches were conducted at the State Enterprise for Pigs Breeding and Hybridization
“Moldsuinhibrid" during the april 2011, using pigs of Landrace breed selected by analogy
(Ovsyannikov, 1976). During the trial the pigs were kept in groups. The feeding was carried out
using mixed fodders manufactured at the fodder factory of the enterprise. The pigs in the control
group were fed with the basic mixed fodder; the features and differences in the feeding of the pigs
in the experimental groups were that the fodder they received was supplemented with the adsorbent
“Primix-Alfasorb” at different levels – 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 kg/t in EG1, EG2 and EG3 respectively.
The experiment on digestibility was carried out which included two phases: preparatory and
accounting. The animals used in the experiment were kept in separate cages.
A chemical analysis of fodder, faeces and urine samples taken in the experiment was also
conducted (by the method of Petuhova et al., 1989).
The data obtained in the experiment were processed by variation statistics (Plohinsky, 1969)
using MS EXCEL.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The feeding of the pigs in the trial was carried out using complete mixed fodders the food
value of which corresponded to the requirements of feeding norms (Kalashnikov et al., 2003) (Table
1, 2).
Table 1. Composition of the diets Table 2. Concentration of nutrients
for breeding gilts, % in 1 kg of mixed fodder
Fodder Period of trial Period
Specification
components 91-120 days 91-120 days
Corn 24.0 Feed units 1.30
Barley 38.8 Metabolizable energy, MJ 14.27
Wheat 21.0 Crude protein, g 143.57
Corn extrusion - Digestible protein, g 118.20
Barley extrusion - Lysine, g 7.87
Wheat extrusion - Methionine + cystine, g 4.95
Soybean meal 11.3 Crude fiber, g 52.11
Wheat bran - Calcium, g 8.81
Fish meal 2.5 Phosphorus, g 5.16
Premix 2.0 Iron, mg 127.54
Salt 0.4 Copper, mg 5.96
Zinc, mg 32.87
Manganese, mg 20.65
Cobalt, mg 0.15
Iodine, mg 0.25

For the organization of a normalized feeding it is necessary to know the degree of assimilation
of the essential nutrients. Digestibility is characterized by the difference of the nutrients eaten and
discharged by animals.
During the accounting period of a physiological trial the recordings of fodder and water
consumption, as well as the collection of discharged faeces and urine were carried out (Table 3).
Table 3. Потребление корма и воды и выделения кала и мочи
during the trial on digestibility (average / head)
During 24 hours
Groups

Ingested Discharged
mixed fodder,
water, l faeces, g urine, l
g
CG 1.002 2.311 0.536 1.020
EG1 1.069 2.247 0.515 1.261
EG2 1.119 2.705 0.517 1.442
EG3 0.926 2.121 0.454 1.015

The data in the table shows, that the fodder consumption in EG1 and EG2 did not significantly
differ from the fodder consumption in the control group, whereas in EG3 it was lower by 7.58 %.
The studies on the use of nutrients showed, that the addition to the basic fodder of the
adsorbent “Primix-Alfasorb” at different levels had an impact on the digestibility of the nutrients in
the fodders in the experimental groups compared with the control group.
An indicator of the nutritional value of the diet is the content of dry matter, the intake of
which by the animals depends on the composition, quality, flavour, physical properties, and power
concentration of the fodder.
The studies on the effect of the adsorbent additives on the digestibility of dry and organic
substances showed that (Fig. 1), in the experimental groups it was higher, were not statistically
significant differences in data, compared with the control group.

Fig. 1. Digestibility of dry and organic substances by the experimental pigs

Fig. 2. Digestibility of crude protein and fat by the experimental pigs

 While the digestibility of crude fat in EG1 significantly increased compared with the control
group by 14.82% and, respectively, in EG2 by 9.28% and in EG3 by 7.55%; the fibre digestibility
was lower in the experimental groups compared with the control group (Fig. 2).

CONCLUSIONS
- The supplementation of the basic fodder with the adsorbent “Primix-Alfasorb” at the level of
0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 kg/t respectively in EG1, EG2 and EG3 had a positive effect on the digestibility of
the nutrients in the diet.
- The optimal level of the adsorbent “Primix-Alfasorb” in the mixed fodders for the breeding
pigs should be 0.2 kg/t.

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