Thompson, Katelyn A.Gebhardt, Jordan T.Clark, Anne B.Woodworth, Jason C.Tokach, Michael D.DeRouchey, Joel M.Goodband, Robert D.Dritz, Steven S.2019-07-312019-07-312017-12-08http://hdl.handle.net/2097/39986A total of 360 pigs [(400 × 200, DNA, Columbus, NE initially 6.7 kg BW) were used in a 35-d study to evaluate the effects of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA; C6, C8, and C10) as a dietary additive on nursery pig growth performance. Pigs were weaned at 21 d of age and allotted to pens based on BW. Pigs were fed a commercial starter diet for 6-d prior to the start of the experiment. Pens of pigs were then assigned to 1 of 8 dietary treatments in a randomized block design by BW with 5 pigs per pen and 9 pens per treatment. Dietary treatments were: 1) a control diet without MCFA; 2-5) control diet containing a 1:1:1 blend of C6, C8, and C10 at 0.25, 0.50, 1.0 or 1.50% total MCFA; 6-8) control diet containing 0.50% C6, C8 or C10. Dietary treatments were fed for 35 d with pig weights and feed disappearance measured weekly to determine ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Data were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed model with pen as the experimental unit. For the overall period (d 0 to 35), pigs fed increasing MCFA blend had improved (linear, P< 0.05) final BW, ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Pigs fed C6 alone or C8 alone had increased (P<0.05) ADG, G:F, and final BW compared to pigs fed the control diet. There was no evidence (P>0.05) for difference between feeding the MCFA alone at 0.50% of the diet compared to pigs fed the 0.5% 1:1:1 blend diet. In conclusion, increasing MCFA blend improved growth performance. Additionally, inclusion of C6 or C8 to the diet resulted in improved ADG and G:F compared to pigs fed the control diet.en-USThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).Fall 2017Text