Korean Journal of Agricultural Science ISSN:2466-2402(Print) 2466-2410(Online) 농업과학연구

This study assessed the effects of a dietary non-genetically modified organism (non-GMO) source on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of grower-finisher pigs. The dietary treatments were 1) rice-soybean meal-based control diet and 2) rice and non-GMO soybean meal-based diet. In the experiment 1, 60 growing pigs (initial body weight [BW] = 23.76 ± 3.42 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments with 6 pigs·pen-1 (5 replications) for 6 weeks. In experiment 2, 48 finishing pigs (initial BW = 64.31 ± 6.17 kg) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups with 4 pigs·pen-1 (6 replications) for 6 weeks. Measurements were the average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), gain-to-feed ratio (G : F), and nutrient digestibility. The growth performance was measured at the beginning and end of each period. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) was determined by chromium oxide as an indigestible marker during the last 7 days of each experiment. During the grower period, pigs fed the diet containing the non-GMO soybean meal had a higher (p < 0.05) ADFI than those fed the control diet; however, there were no differences between the dietary treatments in the ADG, G : F, and ATTD. Moreover, the dietary treatments did not affect the ATTD and growth performance of the finishing pigs. In conclusion, the inclusion of non-GMO soybean meal in the diet had no negative effects on the growth rate and nutrient digestibility, indicating that non-GMO soybean meal can be used in diet formulations with other feed ingredients and be a substitute for conventional soybean meal.