Effects of Feeding an Autoclaved Diet on the Development of Parakeratosis in Swine

Abstract

Feeding pigs an autoclaved natural ration rather than the untreated ration was effective in increasing weight gains and feed efficiency, and decreasing the severity of parakeratosis. Both rations contained a somewhat elevated level of calcium. When pigs were affected with parakeratosis, the autoclaved ration was found to approach the effectiveness of supplemental zinc as a therapeutic agent. Pigs fed the autoclaved ration exhibited a greater zinc retention and a lowered zinc excretion per gram of feces. These effects appeared to be associated with an increased zinc availability rather than a secondary effect resulting from increased growth. Analyses of water extracts of autoclaved and unautoclaved feed showed no increase in zinc solubility due to autoclaving. The level of Phytin phosphorus or water extractable phosphorus was not changed upon autoclaving the diet. Copyright © . .