Fermented High-Moisture Corn: A Game-Changer for Pig Feeding

Liquid feed delivers remarkable feeding benefits. It can cut the feed-to-gain ratio by 0.3 to 0.5 and reduce overall feed consumption by 10% to 18% compared with conventional feeding practices. Additionally, liquid feed notably alleviates stress in suckling piglets and weaned piglets, and boosts their immunity. It also lowers the incidence of diseases in pig herds, curbs the use of antibiotics, and helps produce green pork. Meanwhile, odor inside pig housing is greatly reduced.

High-moisture corn serves as a superior raw material for liquid feed. Below we elaborate on the fermentation and storage methods of high-moisture corn.

Fermentation Principle of High-Moisture Corn

Corn with a moisture content of no less than 32% is stored in an airtight, anaerobic environment for fermentation. For pig farm operators, fermented high-moisture corn outperforms conventional feed in multiple aspects:

1. Improved Feed Palatability

Sugars in corn are fermented by lactic acid bacteria, which lowers the pH value to between 4.2 and 4.5. Fermented high-moisture corn has a higher digestibility than dry corn. Its pleasant fermented flavor appeals greatly to pigs and helps regulate their gastrointestinal health.

2. Higher Feed Utilization & Enhanced Disease Resistance

Fermentation elevates the nutrient conversion rate of corn, improves nutrient digestibility, and degrades anti-nutritional factors. Rich in beneficial microorganisms, fermented high-moisture corn strengthens pigs’ disease resistance. Once these beneficial bacteria colonize pigs’ intestines, feed utilization is substantially enhanced.

● Nutrient digestibility ↑ 10%–20%

● Metabolic rate ↑ 16%

● Digestible crude protein ↑ 30%

● Crude fiber content ↓ 30%

3. Better Nutrient Absorption & Lower Pig-Raising Costs

Fermented high-moisture corn can replace a large portion of concentrated feed, cutting feed expenses significantly. With stronger disease resistance, pigs fall ill less frequently. The improved survival rate and nutrient absorption accelerate market readiness, bringing higher economic returns.

● Overall feed cost reduced by 15%

4. Eco-Friendly & Reduced Environmental Pollution

A study conducted by the University of Guelph in 2007 found that the efficacy of phytase is amplified four times in liquid feed. When phytase is added to high-moisture corn or corn steep liquor, over 85% of phytic phosphorus is released.

In regular dry corn feed, only 15% of phosphorus is available for absorption. After fermentation, the phosphorus availability of high-moisture corn rises to 45%. Based on liquid feed formulated with high-moisture corn:

● Total phosphorus content for finishing pigs can be reduced to 0.39% without compromising growth performance.

● For piglets, total phosphorus can be lowered to 0.60% in the early rearing stage and 0.54% in the later stage, with normal production performance maintained. This effectively cuts phosphorus emissions and environmental pollution.

Recommended Proportion of High-Moisture Corn Liquid Feed for Pigs at Different Growth Stages

● Finishing pigs: 40%–60% of the total feed formula

● Gestating sows: 10%–15% of the total feed formula

● Lactating sows: 25%–35% of the total feed formula

Supplementary Explanations

1.Potency: A unit measuring a substance’s capacity to trigger biological reactions, detectable via physical, chemical or biological assays. It also indicates the activity level of biological products.

2.Phytase: An enzyme produced by microbial fermentation. When added to plant-based feed, it breaks down phytic phosphorus into inositol and phosphate. It improves animals’ phosphorus absorption and cuts phosphorus discharge to protect the environment.

3.Phytic phosphorus: A form of phosphorus that monogastric animals cannot utilize. It accounts for 40%–80% of total phosphorus in plant feed. It not only hinders phosphorus absorption but also interferes with the uptake of protein, calcium, manganese, iron and other trace minerals by animals.

Calculation for Two Storage Methods of High-Moisture Corn

1. Storage in Silage Pits

Calculation based on a pig farm with 10,000 finishing pigs (high-moisture corn accounts for 50% of feed formula)

1.Daily dry matter consumption of corn: 10,000 × 2.1 kg (daily feed intake per pig) × 50% = 10,500 kg (86% dry matter content)

2.Daily consumption of high-moisture corn (35% moisture content): 15 tons = 15 cubic meters

3.Annual total storage volume: 15 m³ × 365 days = 5,475 m³

4.Required floor area of silage pits (with a fixed height of 3 meters): 5,475 ÷ 3 = 1,825 ㎡

Note: 1 cubic meter of ground corn = 1 ton

2. Storage in Silos

Calculation based on a pig farm with 10,000 finishing pigs (high-moisture corn accounts for 50% of feed formula)

1.Daily dry matter consumption of corn: 10,000 × 2.1 kg (daily feed intake per pig) × 50% = 10,500 kg (86% dry matter content)

2.Daily consumption of high-moisture corn (35% moisture content): 15 tons × 0.85 = 12.75 cubic meters

3.Annual total storage volume: 12.75 m³ × 365 days = 4,653 m³

4.Recommended facilities: 4 silos (9 meters in diameter, 17 meters in height)

Note: 1 cubic meter of whole corn kernels = 0.85 tons