Effects of supplementing with fermented mixed feed on the performance and meat quality in finishing pigs

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding fermented mixed feed (FMF) on the growth performance, meat quality, muscle fatty acids profile and antioxidant ability in finishing pigs. In experiment 1, six hundred pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) were randomly distributed into 3 treatments with 4 replicates (50 pigs per replicate). Dietary treatments included a control (CON; basal diet), a basal diet + 5% FMF (5% FMF), and a basal diet + 10% FMF (10% FMF). After 39 days of the experiment, growth performance was evaluated. In experiment 2, a total of four hundred finishing pigs were randomly allocated into 4 dietary treatments consisting of four replicates per treatment and 25 pigs per replicate. Dietary treatments were a control (CON; basal diet), a basal diet + 2% FMF (2% FMF), a basal diet + 4% FMF (4% FMF), and a basal diet + 8% FMF (8% FMF). The duration of the experiment was 35d. At the end of the experiment, 48 pigs from 4 dietary treatments were slaughtered for the determination of carcass and meat quality parameters. In experiment 1, compared with CON, dietary supplementation with 10% FMF increased (P < 0.05) gain/feed ratio (G/F), whereas there was no significant difference in 5% FMF group. In experiment 2, the final body weight, average daily gain (ADG) and G/F were higher (P < 0.05) in 8% FMF group. Feeding 8% FMF increased (P < 0.05) loin muscle area, a* value, marbling score, intramuscular fat (IMF), and inosine-5′-monophosphate (IMP), and decreased (P < 0.05) the drip loss of the longissimus muscle (LM). The percentages of C18:1ω-9c, C18:2ω-6c, C18:3ω-3 and C20:4ω-6c in LM were increased (P < 0.05) in pigs fed 8% FMF diet. Furthermore, greater (P < 0.05) SOD and GSH-Px activities were observed in serum and LM of pigs in 8% FMF group in comparison with CON. Collectively, the present study suggested that dietary FMF supplementation improved the growth performance in finishing pigs. Moreover, pigs fed FMF diets improved carcass performance, meat quality parameters, unsaturated fatty acids proportions and antioxidant ability compared to those fed FMF unsupplemented diets.