Abstract

HERRERA, R et al. Utilization of sorghum grain and forage from ligneous plants in pig fattening. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2013, vol.36, n.1, pp.56-63. ISSN 0864-0394.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the productive indicators in fattening pigs substituting 30 % of the crude protein contributed by the commercial concentrate feed, through feeding variants which included sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) meal and protein forage plants (Morus alba and Tithonia diversifolia). The study was conducted in production areas of the Experimental Station of Pastures and Forages «Indio Hatuey» and 44 pigs were used; they were randomly distributed in 4 experimental treatments with 11 pigs each and had an initial average weight of 26 kg. The control group (C) received only commercial concentrate; the concentrate feed-sorghum group (C-S) was fed 70 % concentrate feed and 30 % sorghum meal; the concentrate feed-sorghum-tree marigold group (C-S-T) had 70 % concentrate feed, 20 % sorghum meal and 10 % fresh tree marigold forage; and the concentrate feed-sorghum-mulberry group (C-S-M) received 70 % concentrate feed plus 20 % sorghum meal and 10 % fresh mulberry forage. The live weight gains, feed intake and feed conversion were determined every 15 days. The trial stopped 108 days after the beginning, when the animals reached slaughter weight. The average cumulative weight gains (g/animal/day) of groups C (623) and C-S (625) showed significant differences (P<0,01) with regards to C-S-T (570) and C-S-M (524). The global feed conversion (kg DM/kg LW) was 3,56 for C; 4,21 for C-S; 5,39 for C-S-T and 5,18 for C-S-M. It is concluded that the inclusion of sorghum meal as energy resource and its combination with forage from protein forage plants constitutes a viable alternative for Cuban pig production

Keywords : pigs; Morus alba; Sorghum bicolor; Tithonia diversifolia.

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