THE DIGESTIBILITY OF NUTRIENTS BY YOUNG PIGS FED DIETS IN WHICH BREWERS' DRIED GRAIN (BDG) REPLACED

Abstract

Twelve crossbred (Large White x Landrace) barrows and gilts of average initial liveweight of 19.6 kg were used in a trial lasting 28 days. The digestibility of nutrients of diets in which BDG replaced O, 25, 50 or '75% of the dietary maize was studied. and the treatments were replicated three times. The trial consisted of two phases of 14 days each, in which pigs were fed at 4 and 6% of their body weights respectively. Each phase consisted ot- a 7-day adjustment period followed by a 7-day collection period of total urine and faeces. Average daily feed and weight gain decreased linearly (P < 0.01) while feed: gain ratio increased linearly (P < 0.01) as level of BDG replacing maize increased. Pigs in period grew significantly at a higher rate (P < 0.01) but had significantly poorer feed conversion efficiencies (P < 0.01). The digestibilities of dry matter, energy, nitrogen, ether extract, crude fiber and ash were all depressed linearly (P < 0.01 as the level of BDG replacing maize increased. Feeding the pigs at 4% body weight level resulted in better digestibilities of dry matter, nitrogen, crude fiber, ether extract and ash