Protein and energy retention in pigs fed diets containing sepiolite

Forty-two castrated male hybrid (Hypor) pigs body weight (12 kg BW) were used to investigate the effects of the dietary inclusion of sepiolite at the level of 20 g kg−1 of sepiolite on protein and energy balance of growing pigs. Six pigs were slaughtered at the start of the test to determine the initial dry matter, protein, lipid, ash, and energy content of the empty body. The remaining 36 pigs were split into two groups: a control group was fed a basal diet and a sepiolite group was fed the basal diet with 20 g kg−1 added sepiolite (Exal®). Six pigs from each treatment were killed at 35 and at 100 kg body weight (BW) to determine dry matter, protein, lipids, ash and energy content of the carcasses. The inclusion of sepiolite did not influence, either average daily gain or feed conversion ratio. During the 12 to 35 kg BW phase, pigs on the sepiolite diet had improved (P < 0.05) energy and protein retention coefficients. The inclusion of 20 g kg−1 sepiolite during the overall trial improved protein and energy retention by 6.1% and energy retention by 5.3% compared with the control group.