Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Less Than 1000 ppm in Drinking Water Did Not Impact Nursery Pig Performance

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Drinking water with high concentrations of total dissolved solids from sulfate salts can reduce animal performance (i.e., feed intake and efficiency of body weight gain) and water usage of newly weaned pigs through the nursery period. Total dissolved solids in drinking water may also negatively impact gut health (measured as intestinal permeability) of nursery pigs. Newly weaned pigs, approximately 20 days old, were stocked at 26 pigs per pen in 44 pens at the South Dakota State University wean-to-finish commercial research barn. Each pen was randomly assigned to receive one of four water treatments. When the concentration of total dissolved solids from sulfate salts is above tolerable levels, this can lead to piglets experiencing diarrhea. However, the sulfate salt levels that were supplied to newly weaned nursery pigs had no apparent impact on feed or water intake nor growth performance in this experiment. ABSTRACT: High concentrations of total dissolved solids (TDS) in water have been reported to increase the incidence of diarrhea and reduce nursery pig growth performance. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of drinking water with high concentrations of TDS from sulfate salts on nursery pigs. Weaned pigs sorted to equalize gender were placed in 44 pens with 26 pigs per pen. One of four water treatments was randomly assigned to each pen: (1) combination of CaSO(4), MgSO(4), and NaSO(4); (2) CaSO(4); (3) MgSO(4); (4) NaSO(4). Access to water and feed (nursery diets fed in four phases) was unrestricted throughout. The weights of pens were measured, feed remaining on weigh days was calculated, and pen water meters were read on d 0, 7, 21, 35, and 42. Water treatment did not affect (p > 0.07) average daily gain, average daily feed intake, or gut integrity of pigs. Water disappearance tended to be greater (p = 0.10) in pens receiving the CaSO(4) water compared to the combination treatment from d 21 to 35. The TDS concentrations from sulfate salts used in this experiment did not impact the growth performance or feed or water disappearance of newly weaned nursery pigs.