Nutrient Utilisation, Growth Performance and Blood Parameters in Weaned Piglets Fed Different Levels of Sun-dried Bovine Rumen Contents

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the effect of feeding different proportions of sun- dried bovine rumen contents (SDRC) on intake, digestibility, growth and haematology of weaned piglets. A total of 20
weaned Yorkshire piglets (~7 weeks; 12.15±4.66 kg BW) were divided into 4 groups of 5 animals each using complete randomized design. The SDRC was included at 0, 5, 10 and 15% levels in treatments T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The intakes of DM, CP and NDF were similar in all the treatments. The average ADF intake was higher (P<0.05) for the 15% SDRC diet as compared to the control diet. The dietary inclusion of SDRC in ration of weaner pigs did not affect nutrient digestibility. The growth performance of the animals fed 5 and 10% SDRC containing diets was similar to that of control diet. However, average weight gain was lower (P<0.05) in pigs fed 15% SDRC diet in comparison to other diets. Dietary treatments did not have any adverse effect on the haematological parameters like PCV, RBC and WBC. It was concluded that sun-dried bovine rumen content
could be included in the diet of weaned piglets up to 10% level without adverse effects on the growth performance and haematological values in weaned piglets.