Influence of Treated Rapeseed Meal on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Blood Profile in Growing Pigs

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of replacing part of soybean meal (SBM) with 15% treated rapeseed meal (tRSM) on growth performance, blood parametres and nutrient digestibility in young growing pigs. A total of 12 crossbred growing pigs (Slovakian White x Landrace) with an average initial body weight of 15.70 ± 1.83 kg were divided into two dietary treatments according to their body weight and sex (six pigs in each group). The experiment lasted 34 days. The rapeseed meal was treated with the product that neutralizes the negative effects of glucosinolates contained in rapeseed by-products for pigs feeding. In our study, we did not observe negative effects of tRSM on body weight, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio. In blood profile, serum urea, albumin, glucose and total chlosterol were not influenced by dietary tRSM treatment. Concentration of total proteins was decreased at the end of the experimental period in the experimental group (P<0.01). For apparent total tract digestibility acid-insoluble ash was used as marker. Partially replacing of SBM with tRSM had no significant negative effects on the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and crude fat. Finally, the inclusion of 15% of treated RSM in growing pig diets had no negative effects on growth performance, nutrients digestibility and selected blood characteristics.