The effect of gelatinization degree and source of starch on the ileal and faecal digestibility of nutrients and growth performance of early-weaned piglets

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of degree of starch gelatinization and source in feeding early-weaned piglets. Nine diets were formulated on the basis of three cereals: hull-less barley, wheat, and maize, and three levels of starch gelatinization (23.8, 54.6 and 81.9%) for each cereal. Cereal grains was processed by pelleting. On the seventh day after weaning, 36 piglets were killed to measure apparent ileal and faecal digestibility of the nutrients of experimental diets. The results of this experiment showed that growth performance and apparent ileal and faecal digestibility were affected by source of cereal and degree of starch gelatinization (P<0.01, PO.05). Better growth and the highest apparent ileal and faecal digestibility coefficients were observed when pigs were fed wheat-based diets that contained about 80% gelatinized starch.