Purdue University 2000 Swine Day Report

Grower-Finisher Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Pigs Fed Genetically Modified "Bt" Corn

T.E. Weber, B.T. Richert, D.C. Kendall, K.A. Bowers, and C.T. Herr
Department of Animal Sciences

Introduction

The USDA estimated that 30% of the US corn planted in 1999 was of the Bt variety (USDA, 2000), which leads to a high probability that transgenic Bt corn is finding its way into swine diets. Limited research has been conducted as to the effects of using Bt corn and other transgenic-derived feed ingredients on livestock growth performance and carcass quality. Research in poultry has shown that feeding diets containing transgenic Bt corn had no deleterious effects on performance or carcass yield of broilers (Brake and Vlachos, 1998). This is the first trial in which Bt corn has been evaluated as an ingredient in grower-finisher swine diets.

Materials and Methods

Experimental Design

One hundred eighty pigs (initially 66 lb and 62 days of age; Dekalb 45 by EB) were blocked by sex and weight and allotted in a randomized complete block design to one of three dietary treatments, consisting of phase fed diets containing: 1) the isogenic control, non-genetically modified parent corn hybrid; 2) the transgenic YieldGard® Bt corn hybrid (Cry1Ab); or 3) commingled nontransgenic corn of different varieties. Initially, pigs were weaned at 12 to 16 days of age and reared in a segregated early weaning (SEW) nursery for a period of 5 weeks prior to entering the separate site, grow-finish facility. Once moved to the grow-finish facility, the pigs were allowed to acclimate and were fed a common diet for a period of 10 days before starting on the experimental diets.

Pigs were housed in a curtain sided confinement facility and reared in groups of six per pen (10 ft2/pig). All pigs had ad libitum access to a one-hole self-feeder and a nipple waterer.

Diets and Data Collection

All diets were formulated to meet or exceed requirements proposed by the NRC (NRC, 1998). Pigs were split sex fed in four dietary phases, with phase changes occurring after 4 weeks for phases I and II, and after 2 weeks for phase III; phase IV was fed from week 11 to market. Each corn type was included at equal percentages within each dietary phase treatment group. Dietary treatments within each phase were formulated to be isolysinic and isocaloric (Tables 1 and 2). Weights and feed intake were recorded every two weeks to monitor average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency (F/G). When the pigs reached an average body weight of approximately 266 lb, they were transported to a commercial processing facility where carcass data was collected. Measurements taken on the ribbed carcasses included: hot carcass weight (HCW), carcass length, backfat depths at the last rib and last lumbar vertebrae, and 10th rib fat depth and loin eye area. Subjective measurements of color, marbling, and firmness were also taken on the carcasses (NPPC, 1999). P2 fat depth was measured via real-time ultrasound. Percentage lean was calculated using the procedure for ribbed carcasses (NPPC, 1991).

The data were analyzed as a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of sex and dietary treatment using the GLM procedure of SAS (1996). The pen served as the experimental unit. Carcass length, backfat measurements, loin eye area, and percent lean were adjusted for hot carcass weight. Mean separation was carried out using the PDIFF option of SAS for adjusted means and the least significant difference test for weight and subjective quality data.

Results

Performance Data

Mean nursery performance was: .95 lb ADG, 1.57 lb ADFI, and 1.65 F/G. Corn type did not affect (P>.10) ADG, ADFI, or feed efficiency during any of the dietary phases (Table 3). Sex affected ADG and ADFI during phases I, II, III, and overall (P<.05), with gilts consuming less feed per day and therefore gaining less body weight per day. Gilts were more feed efficient during phases II, III, and IV and for the overall duration of the trial (P<.05).

Carcass Characteristics

Dietary corn treatment affected HCW (P=.09), with pigs fed the conventional commingled corn varieties having heavier carcasses than pigs fed Bt corn or the isogenic control (Table 4). Pigs fed conventional corn had higher dressing percentages than pigs fed Bt or isogenic control corn (P<.05). Corn had an effect on calculated percent lean, with pigs fed diets containing the isogenic control corn having less percent lean than pigs fed diets containing Bt or conventional corn (P<.05). Pigs fed diets containing isogenic control corn had greater backfat depths at the 10th (P<.05) and last rib (P=.11) as well as the P2 location (P<.05) than pigs fed diets containing Bt or conventional corn. Isogenic control-fed pigs had greater backfat depths at the last lumbar vertebrae than pigs fed conventional corn (P<.05). Corn treatment affected subjective marbling scores, with pigs fed the conventional corn having lower marbling scores (P<.05) than pigs fed either isogenic control or Bt corn diets.

Sex had an effect on slaughter weight and HCW (P<.05), with gilts weighing less at time of slaughter and therefore having lighter carcass weights than barrows. Gilts had a greater calculated percent lean than barrows (P<.05). Sex impacted 10th rib LEA and backfat, with gilts having greater LEA and less backfat than barrows (P<.05). Gilts also had lower backfat depths at the last rib, last lumbar vertebrae, and P2 location than barrows (P<.05). Sex had an effect on subjective marbling scores, with barrows having higher scores than gilts (P<.01).

Discussion

Feeding diets containing transgenic Bt corn had no deleterious effects on growth performance or carcass quality characteristics. The type of corn fed in the diet had no impact on performance, but it did significantly affect measures of carcass composition and quality. While the diets were formulated to the same nutrient specifications, differences in carcass composition could arise due to differences in the bioavailability of the nutrients in the corn. Additionally, there was a numerical increase of .10 lb/day in feed intake for the pigs fed the isogenic control corn. This increased feed intake equated to 9 lbs more feed consumed with identical body weight gain. This increased feed intake may partially explain the increased carcass fat depths and marbling. This phenomenon was also realized in broilers fed Bt corn, in that birds fed Bt corn had improved breast muscle yield over birds fed nontransgenic control corn (Brake and Vlachos, 1998). This warrants further research, such as digestibility studies comparing Bt corn to the other corn types used in this trial.

Implications

Feeding Bt corn to grower-finisher pigs does not hinder growth performance or pork quality when compared to its isogenic control or commingled conventional corn.

References

Brake, J., and D. Vlachos. 1998. Evaluation of transgenic event 176 "Bt" corn in broiler chickens. Poultry Sci. 77: 648.

NPPC. 1991. Procedures To Evaluate Market Hogs (3rd Ed.). National Pork Producers Council. Des Moines, IA.

NPPC. 1999. Pork Quality Standards. National Pork Producers Council. Des Moines, IA.

NRC. 1998. Nutrient requirements of swine (10th Rev. Ed.). National Academy Press, Washington, DC.

SAS. 1996. SAS/STATÒ User's Guide (Release 6.12 Ed.). SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC.

USDA. 2000. USDA estimate of GM crops. Trends in Plant Sci. 5:7.

 

Table 1. Basal diet compositions (as fed basis) for barrowsa.


Item

Phase I
66.6 to 122 lb

Phase II
122 to 183 lb

Phase III
183 to 215 lb

Phase IV
215 to 262 lb

Ingredient, %

 

 

 

 

   Corn

67.80

74.69

79.09

84.68

   Soybean meal (46.5% CP)

28.07

21.17

16.29-17.07

9.76-11.16

   Dicalcium phosphate

1.54

1.41

1.14-1.21

1.03-1.19

   Limestone

.70

.79

.86-.96

.85-.95

   Salt

.35

.35

.25

.15

   Vitamin Premixb

.15

.15

.15

.10

   Trace mineral premixc

.09

.09

.09

.05

   Selenium premixd

.05

.05

.05

.025

   Medicatione

.05

.05

.05

.05

   Micro-Aid

.10

.10

.10

.10

   Choice white grease

1.00

1.00

1.00-1.30

1.00-1.50

   Corn starch

--

--

0.00-0.50

0.00-1.95

 

 

 

 

 

Calculated analysis

 

 

 

 

   Lysine, %

1.10

.95

.80

.65

   ME, Mcal/kg

3.34

3.35

3.37

3.38

   Ca, %

.75

.70

.65

.60

   P, %

.65

.60

.55

.50

a Diets were formulated within each phase to contain equal percentages of each corn type. Therefore, due to inherent differences in nutrient concentrations between corn varieties, it was sometimes necessary to modify the concentrations of other dietary ingredients in order to maintain the same nutrient concentrations (isocaloric, isolysinic) between dietary treatment regimens.
b Provided per lb of complete diet: vitamin A, 1650 IU; vitamin D3, 165 IU; vitamin E, 12 IU; menadione, .55 mg; vitamin B12, .01 mg; riboflavin, 1.9 mg; pantothenic acid, 6.0 mg; and niacin, 9.0 mg.
c Provided per lb of complete diet: Zn, 39 mg; Fe, 39 mg; Mn, 4.8 mg; Cu, 3.6 mg; and I, .13 mg.
d Provided .14 mg selenium/lb of complete diet.
e To provide 20 mg tylosin/lb of complete diet.

 

Table 2. Basal diet compositions for growing and finishing giltsa.


Item

Phase I
65.3 to 118 lb

Phase II
118 to 174 lb

Phase III
174 to 203 lb

Phase IV
203 to 249 lb

Ingredient, %

 

 

 

 

   Corn

64.13

71.14

74.95

81.17

   Soybean meal (46.5% CP)

31.70

24.80

20.24-21.26

13.40-14.74

   Dicalcium phosphate

1.47

1.33

1.04-1.23

.96-1.10

   Limestone

.68

.79

.88-.98

.87-.96

   Salt

.35

.35

.25

.15

   Vitamin Premixb

.15

.15

.15

.10

   Trace mineral premixc

.09

.09

.09

.05

   Selenium premixd

.05

.05

.05

.025

   Medicatione

.05

.05

.05

.05

   Micro-Aid

.10

.10

.10

.10

   Choice white grease

1.00

1.00

1.00-1.20

1.00-1.50

   Corn starch

--

--

0.00-1.02

0.00-1.89

 

 

 

 

 

Calculated analysis

 

 

 

 

   Lysine, %

1.20

1.05

.90

.75

   ME, Mcal/kg

3.34

3.35

3.36

3.38

   Ca, %

.75

.70

.65

.60

   P, %

.65

.60

.55

.50

a Diets were formulated within each phase to contain equal percentages of each corn type. Therefore, due to inherent differences in nutrient concentrations between corn varieties, it was sometimes necessary to modify the concentrations of other dietary ingredients in order to maintain the same nutrient concentrations (isocaloric, isolysinic) between dietary treatment regimens.
b Provided per lb of complete diet: vitamin A, 1650 IU; vitamin D3, 165 IU; vitamin E, 12 IU; menadione, .55 mg; vitamin B12, .01 mg; riboflavin, 1.9 mg; pantothenic acid, 6.0 mg; and niacin, 9.0 mg.
c Provided per lb of complete diet: Zn, 39 mg; Fe, 39 mg; Mn, 4.8 mg; Cu, 3.6 mg; and I, .13 mg.
d Provided .14 mg selenium/lb of complete diet.
e To provide 20 mg tylosin/lb of complete diet.

 

Table 3. Effects of feeding grower-finisher diets containing transgenic "Bt" corn on swine growth performance traitsa.

 

Corn type

Sex

 

Significanceb

Item

Isogenic

Bt

Conventional

Barrow

Gilt

CV

Corn

Sex

Phase I, 66-121 lb

   ADG, lb

1.92

1.92

1.92

1.97

1.87

5.8

.99

.03

   ADFI, lb

4.29

4.22

4.25

4.38

4.11

5.6

.89

.01

   F/G

2.22

2.20

2.21

2.22

2.20

3.6

.75

.40

Phase II, 121-178 lb

   ADG, lb

2.08

2.08

2.12

2.20

1.99

3.9

.37

.01

   ADFI, lb

5.72

5.57

5.70

6.12

5.21

4.1

.37

.01

   F/G

2.74

2.67

2.67

2.78

2.61

4.0

.22

.01

Phase III, 178-209 lb

   ADG, lb

2.20

2.18

2.17

2.29

2.08

5.5

.73

.01

   ADFI, lb

6.71

6.53

6.51

7.13

6.05

4.5

.32

.01

   F/G

3.02

2.98

2.99

3.11

2.90

5.6

.87

.01

Phase IV, 209-255 lb

   ADG, lb

2.20

2.22

2.20

2.24

2.17

5.8

.97

.09

   ADFI, lb

7.24

7.15

7.02

7.63

6.64

4.7

.35

.01

   F/G

3.27

3.22

3.16

3.39

3.06

5.2

.39

.01

Overall, 66-266 lb

   ADG, lb

2.08

2.08

2.09

2.15

2.01

3.0

.95

.01

   ADFI, lb

5.78

5.68

5.68

6.09

5.34

3.7

.51

.01

   F/G

2.77

2.72

2.72

2.82

2.65

2.7

.22

.01

a A total of 180 pigs were used, six pigs/pen, ten pens/treatment. Pigs were fed diets containing isogenic parental corn, Bt corn, or blended conventional nontransgenic corn of different varieties. Corn varieties were incorporated into the diets as a fixed percentage for each of the three treatment groups.
b There were no significant (P>.10) interactions occurring between corn and sex for any of the response criteria.

 

Table 4. Effects of feeding grower-finisher diets containing transgenic "Bt" corn on pork carcass qualitya.

 

Corn type

Sex

 

Significance

Item

Isogenic

Bt

Conventional

Barrow

Gilt

CV

Corn

Sex

Market weight, lb

264.9

264.9

268.1

272.1

259.9

2.6

.50

.01

Hot carcass wt., lb

194.7xy

194.2x

199.1y

198.9

193.1

2.7

.09

.01

Dressing, %

73.9x

73.9x

74.7y

74.0

74.3

1.1

.05

.31

Carcass leanbc, %

54.6x

55.5xy

56.1y

54.2

56.6

2.1

.04

.01

Carcass lengthb, in

32.9

32.9

32.9

32.9

32.9

.95

.46

.98

LEAb, in2

7.60

7.78

7.92

7.57

7.96

5.6

.34

.05

10th rib fat depthb, in

.86x

.78y

.79y

.93

.68

7.7

.02

.01

Last rib fat depthb, in

1.02

.97

.97

1.05

.92

6.1

.11

.01

Last lumbar fat depthb, in

.76x

.71xy

.68y

.78

.66

9.1

.03

.01

P2 fat depthb, in

.68x

.63y

.61y

.71

.57

8.7

.02

.01

Colord

2.45

2.45

2.35

2.32

2.51

13

.70

.12

Marblinge

1.32x

1.27x

1.12y

1.31

1.16

10

.01

.01

Firmnessf

2.55

2.32

2.30

2.28

2.50

13

.17

.07

a A total of 180 pigs were used, six pigs/pen, ten pens/treatment. Pigs were fed diets containing isogenic parental corn, Bt corn, or blended conventional nontransgenic corn of different varieties. Corn varieties were incorporated into the diets as a fixed percentage for each of the three treatment groups. Data are reported as least square means.
b Means are adjusted for hot carcass weight.
c Carcass lean was calculated using the equation for ribbed carcasses (NPPC, 1991).
d Subjective scores were used to evaluate color (1= pale, pinkish gray; 6=dark, purplish red).
e Subjective scores were used to evaluate marbling (1= devoid to practically devoid; 6 = moderately abundant or greater).
f Carcass firmness was evaluated using subjective scores (1= very soft; 5 = very firm).
x,y Means in a row with different superscripts differ (P<.05). No significant interactions were detected between sex and corn type (P>.10).


Index of 2000 Purdue Swine Day Articles