Influence of Ring Die Parameters and Dietary Supplementation with the Mold Inhibitor DMX-7 on Pellet Feed Quality and Growth Performance in Weaned Piglets
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Novel Techniques in Nutrition and Food Science 847incompletely developed gastrointestinal tracts in the early post-weaning phase, rely heavily on liquid milk or milk powder.However, in practice, plant-based solid feed is commonly provided post-weaning, which can stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, damage intestinal tissue and subsequently lead to reduced feed intake and diarrhea [2].Additionally, weaned piglets are highly sensitive to anti-nutritional factors and mycotoxins present in plant-based solid feed.Feed processing involves multiple factors influencing pellet feed quality, including the feed formula, raw material particle size, conditioning, pelleting process and cooling conditions.Among these, the conditioning and pelleting processes alone account for over 35% of the impact.Previous studies have demonstrated that the pelleting process can gelatinize starch in grains, eliminate anti-nutritional factors (such as trypsin inhibitors) and inactivate harmful pathogens (such as Escherichia coli) in feed materials, thereby enhancing nutrient digestion and absorption, safeguarding intestinal health and reducing the diarrhea rate in piglets [3,4].Conversely, high temperature and pressure during conditioning and pelleting may increase AbstractThis study investigated the effects of ring die parameters and dietary mold inhibitor DMX -7 on pellet feed quality and the growth performance of weaned piglets.A total of 600 weaned piglets (28-day-old) were randomly assigned to three groups, which differed in die hole length-to-diameter ratios (L/D=6:1, L/D= 12:1) and DMX-7 supplementation: T1 (L/D=6:1, basal diet), T2 (L/D=12:1, basal diet) and T3 (L/D=12:1, basal diet+0.15%DMX-7+1.3% water).The trial lasted for 30 days.Results showed that the T3 group's feed pellets exhibited superior surface smoothness, compactness and the least severe Maillard reaction.Significantly higher moisture content, starch gelatinization degree and Pellet Durability Index (PDI) were observed in T3 compared to T1 and T2.Moreover, piglets in the T3 group demonstrated increased final body weight, Average Daily Gain (ADG) and Average Daily Feed Intake (ADFI), accompanied by a reduced Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) when compared to the T1 group.In conclusion, a higher die L/D ratio improved pellet quality and DMX-7 supplementation further enhanced both feed pellet processing quality and piglet growth performance.
Author: Zhu Qiufeng
Institution: China Agricultural University
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4413022198