Grass/clover silage for growing/finishing pigs – effect of silage pre-treatment and feeding strategy on growth performance and carcass traits. (2nd October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Friman, Johanna; Lundh, Torbjörn; Presto Åkerfeldt, Magdalena
• Is Part Of: Acta agriculturæ Scandinavica. Volume 70:Number 3/4(2021)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 160
• Publication Date: 2021-10-02
• Subjects: Growing/finishing pig -- silage -- legumes -- TMR -- growth performance -- carcass traits; Animal culture -- Periodicals; Animal nutrition -- Periodicals; 636
• DOI: 10.1080/09064702.2021.1993319
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0906-4702

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the influence of feeding strategy and grass/clover silage pre-treatment on pig growth performance and carcass traits. In total, 128 pigs weighing 30–110 kg were fed either a commercial control feed or received silage in a pellet (SP) or in a total mixed ratio (TMR) containing chopped silage (SC) or intensively treated silage (SE). Silage replaced 20% of dietary crude protein content (g/kg). Diet affected weight gain ( P = 0.001), with pigs fed the SP diet showing best overall growth performance. Pigs fed the SC diet had the lowest weight gain ( P = 0.001), while pigs fed the SE diet performed similarly to those fed the control diet. Carcass weight and dressing percentage differed between the diets ( P = 0.016 and P = 0.018), but there was no difference in lean meat content ( P = 0.832). The results show satisfactory growth performance and carcass traits, indicating that silage can replace other protein sources in growing/finishing pig diets.