Decreasing corn particle size increases energy and nitrogen digestibility in gestating sows

Lay Summary The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of corn particle size on the digestibility of crude protein, and digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and nitrogen adjusted metabolizable energy (AMEn) in gestating sow diets. A total of 27 sows during the second phase of gestation, day 40 to 74, were fed a common diet with one of 3 target geometric mean diameter (dgw) of ground corn, 400, 800, or 1200 µm. Corn was ground using a 3 high roller mill (RMS model 924). Apparent total tract digestibility of crude protein, DE, ME, and AMEn content increased as corn particle size was reduced from 1200 to 400 µm. The ME and AMEn (88.5% DM) of the diet increased by 178 and 172 kcal/kg, respectively, which resulted in a 22.3 and 21.5 kcal/kg, respectively, improvement for every 100 μm decrease in particle size.