Energy value of medium-chain triglycerides and their efficacy in improving survival of neonatal pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the energy value of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and to assess whether oral doses of MCT could improve the survival of neonatal pigs. Twenty 6-d-old pigs from seven litters were fed a milk replacer containing 0, 5, 10, or 20% MCT. Feces and urine were collected for 10 d to determine the energy value of MCT. The determined GE, DE, ME, and N-corrected ME of MCT were 8,279, 8,693, 7,867, and 7,781 kcal/kg, respectively. Two hundred forty-eight neonatal pigs from 23 litters were orally dosed with 6 mL/kg.75 of either MCT or saline twice (14 and 26 h of age), and the growth and mortality of pigs at 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, and 28 d of age were observed. The growth of pigs from birth to 28 d of age was not affected (P > .05) by MCT. Medium-chain triglycerides increased (P < .05) the mortality of large (> 1.5 kg) pigs during 0 to 7 and 0 to 28 d of age and did not reduce (P > .05) the mortality of small (< 1 kg) or medium (1 to 1.5 kg) pigs. In summary, MCT was effective as an energy source for pigs, but neonatal pigs dosed with MCT did not have improved growth or survival from birth to weaning.