Effects of a high-concentration soy pulp diet on production performance in pigs

This study evaluated the effects of a high-concentration soy pulp (HSP) diet on pig production performance and carcass traits under commercial farming conditions. Data were collected from a pig farm in Jeju, Korea, between 2019 and 2024. From 2019 to 2021, pigs were fed a control diet containing 2.3% soy pulp, and from 2022 to 2024, the proportion of soy pulp was increased by 254% (HSP, 21.9%). We evaluated production performance indicators including shipment date, feed cost per kilogram of weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight, carcass yield, and proportion of high-grade carcasses. The feed cost per kilogram remained constant under both diet conditions; however, pigs fed an HSP diet reached market weight significantly earlier than those on the control diet and the feed conversion ratio, carcass weight, and proportion of high-grade carcasses were significantly improved. The carcass yield percentage was non-significantly higher for pigs fed the HSP diet than for those fed the control diet. These findings suggest that providing HSP feed to grow-finish pigs enhance growth performance, improves carcass quality, and shortens the production period, indirectly reducing feed costs. Further studies should explore the long-term economic impacts and potential interactions of HSP with gut health and nutrient digestibility.