Table 1.
Ingredients and chemical composition of the stage diets
| Item | 12–16 mo | 16–20 mo | 20–24 mo | 24–28 mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredient, % | ||||
| Corn | 56.91 | 63.32 | 68.56 | 77.29 |
| Wheat bran | 2.13 | 1.59 | 1.31 | 1.22 |
| Soybean meal | 11.33 | 8.39 | 5.57 | 2.91 |
| Premix1 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Corn silage | 23.69 | 20.85 | 18.66 | 12.39 |
| Rice straw | 4.94 | 4.85 | 4.90 | 4.69 |
| Nutrient composition, %DM | ||||
| Dry matter | 85.12 | 86.76 | 86.55 | 89.34 |
| Crude protein | 12.43 | 12.41 | 12.64 | 9.58 |
| Neutral detergent fiber | 14.45 | 15.41 | 14.81 | 14.62 |
| Ether extract | 3.42 | 3.34 | 3.83 | 4.01 |
| Crude ash | 5.17 | 5.71 | 5.74 | 5.71 |
| Calcium | 0.41 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 0.36 |
| Phosphorus | 0.21 | 0.22 | 0.25 | 0.19 |
1Premix (per kg): vitamin A, 5,000 IU; vitamin D, 700 IU; vitamin E, 30 IU; Zn, 100 mg; Fe, 90 mg; Mn, 20 mg; Cu, 10 mg; I, 0.3 mg; Se, 0.2 mg.