The performance of pigs at different phases of growth on sun-dried brewers spent grain

2017

English

A total of 48 weaner and 24 grower-finisher Large White pigs at an average initial liveweight of 8.5 kg and 25 ± 0.5 kg respectively were used in feeding trials that aimed at investigating their performance with sun-dried based brewers spent grain (DBSG) diets. Pigs were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments designated as Control (W0), 17% DBSG (W 1) and 20% DBSG (W2) for the weaners while the grower-finisher pigs the designations were Control (GF0), 25% DBSG (GF1) and 30% DBSG (GF2). The pigs were grouped on the basis of sex and weight using a completely randomised design. The weaner and grower-finisher pigs had 16 and 8 animals of four replications per treatment respectively. They were restricted-fed once daily quantities of feed at 5% of bodyweights and water provided ad-libitum. They were weighed weekly and rations adjusted subsequently. Growth parameters were recorded and carcass characteristics measured after pigs had been slaughtered at 60 ± 5 kg. The feed conversion ratios (FCR) during the weaner phase were 2.00, 2.08 and 2.50 for W0, W 1 and W2 respectively. Pigs fed W1 demonstrated significantly (P<0.05) preferred economy of gain of € 0.22 compared to their counterparts fed the other diets. The daily feed intake and FCR values of 1.61 kg and 3.78 were significantly lower (P<0.05) for grower pigs fed the GF0 diet relative to the values generated by those fed the other treatments. Much the same way, pigs fed GF1 diet generated the best (P<0.05) economy of gain value (€ 0.46) compared to the others. The fat parameters measured were inversely proportional to levels of DBSG included in the diets. The study demonstrated that the optimum inclusion rates of DBSG relative to weaner and grower-finisher diets were 17% and 25% respectively. It is more economical to raise pigs at these levels because it had the lowest feed cost per kg gain values.

Amoah, K. O.; Asiedu, P.; Wallace, P.; Bumbie, G. Z.; Rhule, S. W. A.