Extruded soybean in pig feeding in the nursery phase:performance

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the replacement of soybean meal by extruded whole soybean in the feeding of pigs in the nursery phase. Thirty-six piglets (Landrace x Large White), with 45 days weighing on average 11.36 kg, distributed in arandomized block design, three treatments, six replicates, two animals per repetition were used. The treatments consisted of: control treatment (T1) basal diet, basal diet with 10% replacement of soybean meal by extruded soybean (T2), basal diet with 20% replacement of soybean meal by extruded soybean (T3). The variables analyzed were: average weight, feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion. The levels of ureatic activity, ether extract, crude protein, protein solubility and volatile moisture of extruded soybean were verified. No difference was found (P>0.05) between the inclusion levels of extruded soybean in piglet diets in the nursery phase for the variables studied. The processing of extruded whole soybean did not affect its digestibility. Extrudedsoybeans at a level of up to 20% included in piglet feeding during the nursery phase can be a possible substitute for soybean meal, without compromising the performance of the animals.