A study was conducted to evaluate the economic results and the performance of nursery piglets fed diets based on the digestible nutrients of high-moisture corn silage (HMCS). Eighteen crossbred piglets (Landrace × Large White) with an average initial weight of 16.01 kg, were used in the digestibility experiment and 60 crossbred piglets, with an average initial weight of 7.11 kg were used in the performance experiment. A randomized block design was used in both experiments. In the digestibility experiment, a reference feed was assessed containing, or not, 30% ground dried corn and high moisture corn silage and the performance experiment assessed four feeds: based on ground dried corn grains, based on SGUM, considering the digestible energy value of the silage determined in the digestibility experiment and based on SGUM considered the digestible energy, digestible protein and available phosphorus values of the silage, determined in the digestibility experiment. The dry matter apparent digestibility, crude protein, phosphorus and calcium and the digestible energy level were greater for the feed based on formulated SGUM considering the nutritional values determined in the digestibility experiment. Throughout the performance experiment (0 to 32 days) SGUM gave better feed conversion and lower cost/kg weight gain, but differences were not observed in the daily weight gain and daily feed intake. In formulating feeds with high moisture corn grains for pigs, the nutritional value should be considered, especially the digestible energy content of this feeds.
digestibility; grain conservation; performance; phosphorus; swine
