The effect of gelatinization degree and source of starch on the ileal and faecal digestibility of nutrients and growth performance of early-weaned piglets

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of degree of starch gelat inization and source in feeding early-weaned piglets. Nine diets were formu lated on the basis of three cereals: hull-less barley, wheat, and maize, an d three levels of starch gelatinization (23.8, 54.6 and 81.9%) for each cer eal. Cereal grains was processed by pelleting. On the seventh day after wea ning, 36 piglets were killed to measure apparent ileal and faecal digestibi lity of the nutrients of experimental diets. The results of this experiment showed that growth performance and apparent ileal and faecal digestibility were affected by source of cereal and degree of starch gelatinization (P < 0.01, P <0.05). Better growth and the highest apparent ileal and faecal dig estibility coefficients were observed when pigs were fed wheat-based diets that contained about 80% gelatinized starch.