Peer review

Forty-eight pigs (average 18.3 kg live weight) were used in a replicated 2 × 2 factorial experiment to study effects of corn heated (160 to 180 C exit temperature) and unheated with aflatoxin (383 ppb) and without detectable amounts of aflatoxin on performance of growing-finishing pigs. Heating aflatoxin-contaminated corn reduced total aflatoxins from a mean of 383 ppb to a mean of 60 ppb and lysine and methionine contents by 30 and 21%, respectively, while heating aflatoxin-free corn reduced lysine and methionine contents by 21 and 36%, respectively. Average daily gains of pigs fed diets containing aflatoxin-contaminated corn and those fed diets with aflatoxin-free corn were similar (P>.05). Pigs fed diets with aflatoxin-contaminated corn consumed more feed (P<.05) and required more feed (P<.05) per unit of weight gain. Twelve barrow pigs (average 12.9 kg live weight) were used in a digestion and nitrogen balance trial consisting of three 4 × 4 Latin squares so that each pig received each treatment during the trial. Pigs fed diets containing aflatoxin-free corn had higher digestion coefficients for dry matter, ether extract and nitrogen, consumed less nitrogen, excreted less nitrogen in feces and urine and had a higher nitrogen balance (P<.05) than did pigs fed diets with aflatoxin-contaminated corn. Pigs fed diets with unheated corn had higher digestion coefficients for crude fiber and nitrogen, consumed less nitrogen, excreted less nitrogen in feces and urine and had a higher nitrogen balance (P<.05) than pigs fed diets with heated corn.

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