Effect of the Dietary By-Product Camelina Meal on Performances and Carcass Quality of TOPIGS Pigs

Abstract

Camelina meal (CM) is a new and valuable by-product for finishing pigs . The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of repl acing sunflower meal (SM) with a C18:3-n3-rich by- product, CM on the performances (body weight, BW; feed intake, FI; average daily gain, ADG, feed efficiency, FE), carcass quality (fat thickness, FT ; eye muscle area, EMA; lean meat proportion in carcass (LMP, on live and slaughter animals) and cl asses of quality (CC) in fattening TOPIGS pigs. The fattening TOPIGS pigs (N=22; 68.45 kg ± 3.83, average weight) were assigned into 2 groups (C and E1). Group C received a compound feed with 12% sunflower meal, group E1 received the same compound feed but the sunflower meal was replaced by 12% CM, during 33 days. Fat thickness, EMA and LMP were assess on live animals using ultrasoni c equipment PIGLOG 105. Animal performances such as: final average body weight (C-98.00 kg; E1- 95.10 kg), FI (C-3.31 kg/day; E1-3.03 kg/day), ADG (C-0.866 kg/day; E1-0.836 kg/day) and FE (C-3.82 kg/kg; E1-3.62 kg/kg) weren't significantly affected (P>0.05) by CM. Fat thickness decreased (- 23%, P 0.05; + 6%, P<0.05) in the E1 group comparing to C group. Both trial groups were included in E classes according to EUROP system. In the pres ent research work, we demonstrated that feeding finishing pigs with CM improved their quality carca ss with possible benefits for human nutrition. To obtain more favorable results concerning bio-produc tive performances lower levels of CM inclusion are recommended.