Effects of dietary aluminosilicate on growth performance, frequency of diarrhea, and blood profiles of weaned pigs

This study was designed with two experiments to investigate the effects of dietary aluminosilicate on growth performance, frequency of diarrhea, and blood profiles of weaned pigs. In Exp. 1, a total of 48 weaned pigs [initial body weight (BW) 7.65 +/- 0.99 kg; 28 days of age) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments (4 pigs/pen; 6 replicates/treatment) for 4 weeks in a randomized complete block design (block = initial BW and sex). In Exp. 2, a total of 48 weaned pigs [initial BW 7.85 +/- 1.15 kg; 28 days of age] were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments (4 pigs/pen; 6 replicates/treatment) for 6 weeks in a randomized complete block design (block = initial BW and sex). Dietary treatments were a basal weaned pig diet (CON) and CON + 0.3% dietary aluminosilicate (CON + AS). Growth performance was measured in Exp.1 and 2 and the frequency of diarrhea and blood profiles in Exp. 2. All the data and sample were collected at specific time points during the experimental period. There were no differences on growth performance and frequency of diarrhea between dietary treatments. However, pigs fed CON + AS had lower hematocrit (19.13 vs 15.23%; d 42; p < 0.10) and hemoglobin (14.02 vs 12.40 g/dl; d 42; p < 0.05) than those fed CON. In conclusion, the addition of dietary aluminosilicate to the basal weaned diet had no negative effect on the growth performance, frequency of diarrhea, and blood profiles of weaned pigs.