Influence of Rapeseed Meal on Growth Performance, Blood Profiles, Nutrient Digestibility and Economic Benefit of Growing-finishing Pigs.

Y Lee,D H Kim,H B Choi,H Kwon,J H Jeong,Y Y Kim

doi:10.5713/ajas.14.0802

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary rapeseed meal (RSM) on growth performance, blood profiles, nutrient digestibility and economic benefit of growing-finishing pigs. A total of 120 growing pigs ([Yorkshire×Landrace] ×Duroc) with an initial body weight (BW) 29.94±0.06 kg were used in this experiment. Pigs were randomly allotted into 1 of 5 treatments in a randomized complete block design and 6 replicates with 4 pigs per pen. Treatments were divided by dietary RSM supplementation levels (0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, or 12%) in growing-finishing diets. A linear decrease (p<0.05) of BW and average daily gain (ADG) were observed at 13th wk of finishing and overall periods of pigs. Additionally, gain-to-feed ratio (G/F) tended to decrease by dietary RSM supplementation in growing-finishing diets (linear, p = 0.07 and quadratic, p = 0.08). Concentrations of serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine were not influenced by dietary RSM treatments whereas thyroid gland and liver weight were increased at 13th wk of finishing period (linear, p<0.05; p<0.01) by increasing dietary RSM supplementation level. In blood profiles, serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were not differed by dietary treatments at 13th wk of finishing period whereas concentration of serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol was affected by the supplementation level of RSM, resulting in a linear RSM level responses (p<0.05). Serum blood urea nitrogen concentration tended to decrease (linear, p = 0.07; p = 0.08) at 6th wk of growing and 13th wk of finishing periods and digestibility of dry matter tended to decrease by dietary RSM (linear, p = 0.09). Crude protein, crude fat and nitrogen retention, whereas, were not affected by dietary RSM supplementation level. In the economic analysis, feed cost per weight gain was numerically decreased when RSM was provided up to 9%. Consequently, RSM could be supplemented to growing-finishing diets up to 9% (3.07 μmol/g Gls) without detrimental effects on growth performance of growing-finishing pigs.

Highlights

The cost of pig production is mainly affected by feed cost which impacts pork producers’ profitability
Rapeseed meal (RSM) has higher crude fiber (14.1% vs 3.9%) than that of Soybean meal (SBM) which means RSM contains higher neutral detergent fiber (NDF)
High NDF in RSM reduces apparently ileal digestibility of lysine (74% vs 87%) and lowers protein digestibility (75% vs 90%) compared to SBM (Bell, 1984; Noblet and Goff, 2001) so nutrient digestibility may be attributed to elevated levels of fibers components (Patrick et al, 2010)

Summary

Introduction

The cost of pig production is mainly affected by feed cost which impacts pork producers’ profitability. 6.29 experimental diets containing different levels of RSM (0, 3%, 6%, 9%, or 12%) were provided to pigs during growing (G/F ratio). Each diet in growing period contained 3,250 kcal of ME/kg, 14.0% of crude protein (CP) and 0.86% of total lysine and the assigned levels of RSM, respectively.

Results

Conclusion