What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate how varying corn particle size affects digestibility of key nutrients in gestating sows.

February 2, 2026Translational Animal Science0 citationsOpen Access

Decreasing corn particle size increases energy and nitrogen digestibility in gestating sows

Key Points

To evaluate how varying corn particle size affects digestibility of key nutrients in gestating sows.
Conducted an experiment with 27 gestating sows from day 40 to 74 of gestation.
Sows were fed a common diet with corn ground to three target particle sizes: 400, 800, and 1200 µm.
Measured digestibility of crude protein, digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and nitrogen adjusted metabolizable energy (AMEn).
Apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients increased significantly as corn particle size decreased from 1200 to 400 µm.
Metabolizable energy increased by 178 kcal/kg for each 100 μm reduction in particle size.
Nitrogen adjusted metabolizable energy improved by 172 kcal/kg for every 100 μm decrease.

Abstract

Lay Summary The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of corn particle size on the digestibility of crude protein, and digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and nitrogen adjusted metabolizable energy (AMEn) in gestating sow diets. A total of 27 sows during the second phase of gestation, day 40 to 74, were fed a common diet with one of 3 target geometric mean diameter (dgw) of ground corn, 400, 800, or 1200 µm. Corn was ground using a 3 high roller mill (RMS model 924). Apparent total tract digestibility of crude protein, DE, ME, and AMEn content increased as corn particle size was reduced from 1200 to 400 µm. The ME and AMEn (88.5% DM) of the diet increased by 178 and 172 kcal/kg, respectively, which resulted in a 22.3 and 21.5 kcal/kg, respectively, improvement for every 100 μm decrease in particle size.

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