Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances

Year: 2003
Volume: 2
Issue: 11
Page No. 630 - 635

Performance of Growing-Finishing Pigs Fed Barley-Based Diets Supplemented with Graded Levels of Wheat Heavies

Authors : P.A. Thacker

Abstract: This experiment was conducted to determine the nutritional value of a wheat-screening product designated as wheat heavies when fed to growing-finishing pigs. Forty crossbred pigs (Camborough 15 Line female x Canabred sire) weighing an average of 19.9?2.8 kg were assigned to one of five dietary treatments in factorial design experiment. The main effects tested included level of wheat heavies (0, 18, 36, 54 and 72%) and sex of pig (barrows and gilts). A botanical analysis of the wheat heavies indicated that they contained 49.7% whole or cracked wheat with the most prevalent weed seeds being argentine canola (23.5%), green foxtail (15.8%), cleavers (4.2%) and wild buckwheat (1.4%). The digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and gross energy declined in a linear fashion (P<0.001) as the level of wheat heavies in the diet increased. In addition, significant cubic (P<0.01) effects were also observed with increasing levels of wheat heavies with the 18% inclusion level of wheat heavies producing digestibility coefficients higher than the 0 or 36% inclusion levels for all three nutrients. Over the entire experimental period (19.7 to 104.8 kg), weight gain declined in a linear fashion (P=0.032) as the level of wheat heavies in the diet increased. Feed intake also declined linearly (P=0.001) with increasing levels of wheat heavies while feed conversion was unaffected (P=0.487). Sex of pig did not affect (P>0.05) pig performance. Dietary inclusion of wheat heavies produced no significant changes (P>0.05) in any carcass trait including dressing percentage, carcass value index, lean yield, loin fat or loin lean. The overall results of this experiment indicate that wheat heavies can be fed at levels as high as 18% of the diet without detrimental effects on nutrient digestibility, pig performance or carcass quality. Higher levels of incorporation may be economical depending on the relative cost of wheat heavies and alternative energy sources.

How to cite this article:

P.A. Thacker , 2003. Performance of Growing-Finishing Pigs Fed Barley-Based Diets Supplemented with Graded Levels of Wheat Heavies. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 2: 630-635.

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