Inclusion of grass/clover silage in diets to growing/finishing pigs - Influence on performance and carcass quality

Abstract

Effects of grass/clover silage on growing/finishing pig performance and carcass quality were evaluated. In total, 128 pigs were fed either commercial feed + chopped silage mixed and fed together (SM), commercial feed + intact silage fed separately (SS), commercial feed + dried ground silage, mixed and pelleted (SP), or commercial feed alone as a control treatment (C). Silage inclusion level was 20% on an energy basis. From 30 to 110 kg, C and SP pigs had the highest weight gain, while carcasses of SM and SS pigs had higher lean meat content. Based on the consumption of commercial feed, pigs fed silage (SM, SS and SP treatments) had better feed conversion ratio. Although pigs in the silage treatments were fed 20% less commercial feed on an energy basis compared with control pigs, their weight gain was only 5%-15% lower. This indicates that grass/clover silage can contribute with parts of the nutrient supply to pigs.

Keywords

growth; Swine; roughage; weight gain; carcass quality

Published in

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science
2014, volume: 64, number: 3, pages: 145-153
Publisher: Taylor & Francis: STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles

SLU Authors

• Wallenbeck, Anna

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Rundgren, Margareta

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Åkerfeldt, Magdalena

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Genetics and Breeding

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064702.2015.1006668

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/66423