EFFECTS OF HIGH FIBRE, AND PELLETED AND NON-PELLETED HIGH FIBRE-HIGH FAT RATIONS ON PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF BACON PIGS

Abstract

A study involving 96 individually-fed growing-finishing pigs was conducted to determine the effects of high fibre, and pelleted and non-pelleted high fibre-high fat rations, on the performance and carcass characteristics of bacon type pigs.Rate of liveweight gain, and gains adjusted to equal feed intakes, decreased when the fibre level was increased by substituting ground mixed timothy-red clover hay for part of the barley in the control rations. Rate of gain increased in the finishing period with the introduction of 5 per cent of stabilized tallow into the high fibre rations.Pelleting the high fibre-high fat rations had little effect on the performance of the pigs in the growing period, while rate of gain increased in the finishing period as a result of the pelleting process. This increase in rate of gain was associated with increased feed intake.High fibre rations resulted in lower dressing percentage and loin fat thickness, and increased Advanced Registry belly and total scores. The addition of 5 per cent of stabilized tallow to the high fibre rations resulted in increased shoulder and loin fat thickness. Pelleting of the high fibre-high fat rations had no significant effect on carcass measurements, although the pigs fed pelleted rations consumed more feed per day and made more rapid gains in the finishing period than those fed the same rations non-pelleted.