Nutritive evaluation of dried cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) waste meal as feed for grower-finisher pigs

Abstract

This research investigated the nutritive value of dried cabbage waste meal (CWM) as feed for grower-finisher pigs. One hundred crossbred (Large white X Landrace; 86.10 ± 0.15 kg BW) clinically certified grower-finisher pigs of equal sexes were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments with five replicates per treatment in a completely randomized design. The control diet (T0 Diet) contained 1000 g kg−1DM concentrate without CWM, while diets T50, T100, T150 and T200 had 50, 100, 150 and 200 g kg−1 DM levels of inclusion of CWM, respectively, replacing parts of the total mixed ration (TMR). Data were collected on growth performance, carcass indices, blood biochemical profiles, and economics characteristics of pigs. The study lasted for 8 weeks. Feed and water were available ad libitum. Feed intake (2336.74–2651.01 g/d) increased (p < 0.05) while weight gain (913.04–877.53 g/d) and feed conversion ratio (2.56–3.02) were better (p < 0.05) among pigs fed T0, T50 and T100 diets. Carcass parameters followed the same trend as growth indices (p < 0.05). Red blood cell counts (6.04–8.57 × 1012/L), haemoglobin (15.10–18.35 g/dl) and neutrophils (21.28–25.88%) concentrations increased (p < 0.05) among pigs fed cabbage waste meal. Aspartate aminotransferase concentrations (33.25–40.23 U/L) increased (p < 0.05) significantly among pigs fed T100, T150 and T200 diets. Total cost of feeding (61.19–56.27 $) reduced (p < 0.05) with similar gross benefits (48.97–52.30 $) across the treatment groups. The results suggest that up to 100 g kg−1 CWM could be incorporated into pig diets to improve their growth performance and support profitable pig production.