<b>The use of pondweed (<em>Egeria densa</em>) in pig feed</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v31i1.3587

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance livestock, carcass yield and economic viability of including Brazilian elódea (Egeria densa) in feed for pigs during the growing and finishing phases. We used 32 females, Dalland C-40 commercial line, with initial body weight of 23 ± 1.05 kg, distributed in a completely randomized design. The experimental treatments consisted of four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets with crescents levels of inclusion of elodea (0, 5, 10 and 15%). The inclusion of elodea took one quadratic effect of the feed intake, decreased linear of the average daily weight gain and increased linearly the feed conversion. The variables of carcass only the hot carcass weight, carcass yield and backfat thickness showed decreasing linear behavior. The intake of cadmium did not cause toxicity in animals and neither led their concentration in the liver and kidneys. The economic viability as a function of body weight, and the hot carcass weight, showed a quadratic. It was concluded that the inclusion of elodea decrease feed conversion and weight gain, but is economically viable its inclusion up to 6.5% in females swine rations.