Effects of Compound Trace Minerals on the Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Fattening Pigs

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplemental levels of compound minerals (CM), which was formulated from a mixture of 300 mg calcium, 150 mg magnesium, 25 mg zinc, 15 mg iron, 4 mg manganese, and 2 mg copper per gram, on the growth performance and feed conversion ratio of Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) fattening pigs. A total of 53 female pigs and 45 male pigs at 35 days of age were individually notched and randomly allocated to three treatments, including0 (basal diet), 0.5 (basal diet with 0.5 mg CM/kg feed), and 1 (basal diet with 1 mg CM/kg feed). There were three replicates for each of the three treatments with 28, 34, and 36 pigs in the first, second, and third treatments, respectively. The experiment was divided into two phases, the growing stage, and the finishing stage. Supplementation of compound minerals in the diet led to an increased average daily weight gain and improved feed conversion ratio and meat quality without effects on the lean meat percentage. An addition of 1 mg of compound minerals per 1 kg of feed is the recommended dose to improve the production performance of fattening pigs. These results suggest that the use of compound minerals could improve the growth traits of fattening pigs under tropical environmental conditions.

Keywords:

• Growth
• pork
• compound minerals
• swine
• Vietnam

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the SEAWATER Chemical Institute Inc. (16-11 Simohata-machi, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu-City, Fukuoka-ken, 807-1123, Japan). The authors thank the owner, technicians, and workers who participated and supported this study.