Effect of hydroponic wheat fodder supplementation on dry matter intake and growth performances of piglets

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of hydroponic wheat (HPW) fodder as a supplement on the growth performance of weaned piglets. A 12-week randomized complete study was conducted using 30 weaned crossbreed (Pietrain × Landrace) piglets [60 ± 2 d of age, and body weight (BW) of 17.61± 1.63 kg (mean ± SD)]. Treatments were 0%, 15%, and 30% HPW on a dry matter (DM) basis, and diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Dry matter intake (DMI) was recorded daily while BW was measured every two weeks. Average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (Gain: feed) were calculated. Data were subjected to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) using RStudio., 3.4.1. Results showed that BW, ADG, DMI, and feed efficiency differed among treatments (P = 0.002; P = 0.01; P = 0.002 and P = 0.002 respectively) and were greater in piglets fed 0% HPW compared to the rest of the groups. The final average BW of piglets were 50.5; 43.9 and 39.1 kg for 0%, 15% and 30% HPW, respectively. The average daily gains were 0.66, 0.59 and 0.54 kg/day for 0%, 15% and 30% HPW, respectively. Dry matter intake was 1.88; 1.71 and 1.63 kg/d for 0%, 15% and 30% HPW respectively. Feed efficiency (Gain: feed) was 0.27; 0.08 and 0.06 for piglets fed 0%, 15% and 30% HPW respectively. In the present study, piglets that were fed diets containing different levels of HPW had lower growth performances compared to piglets fed the control diet. Hence, the inclusion of HPW in piglets’ diets should be limited.