<b>Utilization of two cottonseed meal in starting pig feeding : digestibility and performance</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v28i4.604

Abstract

Three experiments were carried out with the objective to study the use of cottonseed meals (CM) with different crude protein level s, (36% CPCM36 and a 42% CP-CM42) on starting pig diets. The Exp. I was a digestibility trial using 12 barrows. The CM36 and CM42 showed 2,256 and 2,414 kcal DE kg^-1, 2,042 and 2,196 kcal ME kg^-1, and 77.54 and 79.75% to digestibility coefficients of CP, respectively. In the Exp. II and III were studied the starting pigs performance (15 -30 kg) fed with CM36 and CM42, respectively. In both experiments, five diets with increasing levels of CM (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16%) were studied, using 40 piglets allotted in a randomized design block, with four replicates and two piglets per experimental unit. With the inclusion of CM36 the daily feed intake (DFI) did not influence, the daily weight gain (DWG) presented a quadratic effect with maximum point, and feed:gain ratio (FGR) increased. The economic analysis indicated feasibility inclusion up to 8%. With the addition of CM42 there was quadratic effect on DFG and DWG, with minimum points, and increased to the FGR. The results suggest that the inclusion of CM impaired the FGR. However, its economical feasibility depends on the relative cost of feedstuffs.