EFFECTS OF FEEDING DIETS CONTAINING UNDELINTED UNDECORTICATED COTTONSEED CAKE ON GROWTH, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF FEMALE PIGS

EFFECTS OF FEEDING DIETS CONTAINING UNDELINTED UNDECORTICATED COTTONSEED CAKE ON GROWTH, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF FEMALE PIGS

ABSTRACT

Three trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding diets containing 0,10,20 or 30% undelinted undecorticated cottonseed cake (UUCSC) on growth, carcass characteristics and reproductive performance of female pigs. In the first experiment, twenty-four crossbred (Large White X Hampshire) grower pigs of average initial weight of 16.4kg live weight were fed 18% crude protein (CP) diets containing 0, 10, 20 or 30% UUCSC. There were two pigs per pen and three replications of the four treatments in a randomized block design trial. Pigs were fed at 5% of body weight daily. The trial lasted for 63 days. In a second trial, pigs were fed 0, 10, 20 or 30% UUCSC during the weaner, grower, growing-finishing and the reproductive phases. Twenty-four crossbred (Large White X Hampshire) weaner pigs of average initial weight of 12.7 kg were randomly assigned to pens on the basis of initial weight group. There were two pigs per pen and three replications in a randomized block design. Pigs were fed 18% CP during the weaner phase at 6% body weight daily and 16% CP diets at 5% body weight during the grower and growing-finishing phases. Pigs were housed on concrete floor pens and each phase lasted for 42 days. At the end of the growing-finishing study blood was collected from the gilts. Twelve gilts were selected (one gilt per pen) and slaughtered for carcass and organ histopathologcal analyses. There were no significant differences in terms of feed intake, weight gain and feed to gain ratio for all classes of pigs in the trials. There were significant decreases (P<0.05) in terms of feed cost per kilogramme and feed cost per kilogramme gain. All blood measurements examined were similar across the dietary treatments. The dressing, shoulder, ham and loin percentages were not affected by dietary treatments. The loin-eye area decreased (P<0.01) while back fat thickness increased linearly (P<0.01) as UUCSC increased in the diets. Liver, kidney and spleen yields of pigs fed the 30% UUCSC diet were significantly (P<0.05) lower vii compared to those on other diets. The histopathological studies of the various organs of pigs fed 30% UUCSC diets indicated that the liver showed hepatic degeneration and necrosis while the kidney, heart, spleen, ovary and lymph node showed lesions compared to pigs fed other dietary treatments. Twelve gilts from the above study were fed the experimental diets, bred and maintained until piglets were weaned for the reproductive study phase. Reproductive parameters were similar on the diets. The apparent digestibility of nutrients and nitrogen balance were studied using 12 crossbred (Large White X Hampshire) weaner pigs of average initial weight of 12.0 kg. There were 3 replications of the four treatments in which UUCSC was fed at 0, 10, 20 and 30% levels in 18% CP diets. Pigs were housed in crates in a randomized block design trial. Pigs were fed at 4 and 6% of body weight respectively during the two periods, each made made up of a 7 – day adjustment and collection periods of faeces and urine. The UUCSC analysed contained 93.50% dry matter, 26.0% crude protein, 8.50% ether extract, 13.22% nitrogen free extract and 4250 kcal/kg gross energy. The apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and crude fibre were significantly reduced by the levels of UUCSC fed in the diets. Nitrogen intake was similar on all diets. Nitrogen retention was significantly (P<0.01) reduced by the levels of UUCSC in the diets of the weaner pigs. For good carcass UUCSC should be fed at 20% inclusion rate in the diets of female pigs. It was concluded that UUCSC can be fed to young and adult female pigs at 20 and 30% inclusion rate respectively without adversely affecting their growth performance, reproductive indices and physiological state.

EFFECTS OF FEEDING DIETS CONTAINING UNDELINTED UNDECORTICATED COTTONSEED CAKE ON GROWTH, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF FEMALE PIGS

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