0
Pig producers can improve profitability by adjusting feeding practices and diet composition based on a better understanding of how nutrient availability affects production efficiency. The portion of energy that pigs can use for growth and maintenance is known as net energy (NE), and it is considered the most accurate measure of energy intake when evaluating performance. To achieve noticeable improvements in growth and nutrient digestibility, diets may need to include a wider range of energy levels. Ensuring that feed provides enough NE is therefore a key factor in optimizing pig performance.
Objective: This study evaluated the optimal level of NE in pig diets to improve growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and reduce noxious gas emissions in growing–finishing pigs.
Methods: A total of 150 pigs ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc), with an initial average body weight of about 33 kg, were randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments for 112 days, covering both the growing and finishing stages. Diets were formulated with different NE levels: a control diet (2475 kcal/kg), diets with –5% NE (2353 kcal/kg) or –2.5% NE (2414 kcal/kg), and diets with +2.5% NE (2537 kcal/kg) or +5% NE (2599 kcal/kg).
Results: Increasing dietary NE by +5% improved average daily gain, final body weight, and feed efficiency, while reducing NE by –5% impaired growth and worsened feed conversion. Nutrient digestibility and gas emissions ,however, were not affected by changes in NE levels.
Conclusion: Overall, providing pigs with a diet containing 5% more NE than the basal level enhanced growth and feed efficiency. This strategy can also help reduce feed costs, since energy-dense ingredients allow pigs to grow more efficiently with less feed.
Kolawole UK, Kim IH. An increase in dietary net energy concentration affects nutrient digestibility and noxious gas emissions and reveals a better growth rate in growing-finishing pigs. Animals (Basel). 2025; 15(18): 2761. doi: 10.3390/ani15182761.