Studies on the relationship between lower-cost low protein complexity feed and genetics with health and growth performance in pigs

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Reduction of production cost via alternate feeding strategies is a research priority of the swine industry. Our recent study showed lower cost reduced animal-protein (low protein complexity) diets can be fed to nursery pigs without negative impacts on performance up to market weight as long as pigs do not become diseased. We have also identified pig genotypes associated with improved growth rate and infectious disease resistance, but the cumulative impact of feed quality, genotype, and health on pig growth performance under commercial farming conditions is unclear. This study will examine the application of lower-cost diets, and investigate whether pigs with improved genetic resistance to infectious diseases perform better under these diets/conditions. Pigs on commercial farms will be fed either a lower cost reduced animal low complexity protein diet or conventional diet during 2 different seasons. Pigs will be weighed multiple times and monitored for disease; sick pigs will be necropsied to diagnose disease etiologies. Blood, feces and nasal swabs will be tested for the presence of swine pathogens, and serum immune/growth biomarkers will be analyzed, and pigs genotyped for defects in innate disease resistance genes. At slaughter a subset of pigs will be evaluated for carcass dressing percentage and lean yield to determine the impact of the diets on carcass quality. We will determine the feasibility of using alternative lower cost reduced animal protein diets in a commercial setting. We will also identify parameters that impact growth performance under commercial conditions and resistance to infectious agents during the various stages of growth and relate these to productivity up to market weight and carcass quality, to help maximize the economic benefits of this alternative less expensive nursery diet. This study will provide valuable knowledge usable by producers and feed and genetics companies towards the use of less expensive feeds as well as selection of more robust pig genotypes and/or pigs with superior growth performance. The result for Canadians will be a stronger swine industry with improved animal welfare, safer pork for consumption, and reduced use of antimicrobials thus helping in the war on antimicrobial resistance.