Growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of pigs fed diets containing amarula (Sclerocarya birrea A. Rich) nut cake as replacement to soybean meal.
Mabena, T.M. Ratsaka, M.M Nkukwana, T.T. Malebana, M.M Nkosi, B.D
Mabena, T.M.
Ratsaka, M.M
Nkukwana, T.T.
Malebana, M.M
Nkosi, B.D
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Abstract
This experiment evaluated varying levels of Amarula (Sclerocarya birrea A. Rich) nut cake (ANC) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics in pigs. Thirty Large White × Landrace (LW × LR) pigs were stratified by weight (average live weight of 20 ± 5 kg) and randomly allocated to the five experimental diets that contained 0 (control), 50, 100, 150 and 200 g ANC/kg DM. Each pig served as a replicate unit, housed individually. Bodyweight, feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded
weekly throughout the trial period. On completion of the growth trial, following a 3-day adaptation, a nutrient digestibility study was conducted over 5 days. Thereafter, pigs were fasted for twelve hours, weighed, slaughtered, and carcass samples were collected for analysis. Feed intake was not affected by dietary treatment, but ADGs were reduced at ANC levels > 15%, resulting in poor FCR. Protein digestibility was reduced at ANC levels > 15%, while ether extract and fibre levels increased. Warm and cold carcass weights were lower at ANC levels > 15, with improved meat redness and lightness. It was concluded that ANC could replace SBM in the diet of growing pigs at less than
15% inclusion level.
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Date
2021-06-22
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Springer
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Keywords
Energy, Fats, Fibre, Meat, Nitrogen, Soybean