ABSTRACT

 A 336-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the inclusion of dry cattle rumen content (DCRC) as component of pig feed on growth performance, digestibility and nutrients utilization, hematological indices, carcass and organ characteristics, optimal levels of inclusion and cost-benefit. In each experiment thirty Landrace × Large White hybrids pigs were used in completely randomized design. Rumen content was collected from abattoir and sun-dried; included at different levels: Experiment 1: 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%; Experiment 2: 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%; Experiment 3: 0%, 7.5%, 15%, 22.5% and 30%. Five dietary treatments tagged D₁, D₂, D₃, D₄ and D₅ were formulated in each to be isocaloric (3020 kcal/kg ME) and isonitrogenous (18% CP) Performance data revealed that initial live weight (ILW) and final live weight (FLW) responded non-significantly (P>0.05). The daily feed intake (DFI) significantly (P<0.05) differ across the group; likewise food conversion ratio (FCR) and daily protein intake (DPI) responded non significantly (P>0.05) across the group. The protein efficiency ratio (PER) was significantly highest in D₁ while D₂ – D₅ are significantly similar (P>0.05) across the group. The feeding of graded levels of DCRC significantly (P<0.05) affected live weight (LW), dry matter intake (DMi), dry matter as % of body weight (DM%BW), DM retention (DMr), organic matter intake (OMi) and organic matter retention (OMr) but fecal dry matter (FDM) and fecal organic matter (FOM) was similar across the group. Similarly the digestibility coefficient revealed that crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) was significant (P<0.05) different while DM, OM and crude fiber (CF) was not affected by dietary treatment. Energy utilization indices varied significantly (P<0.05) across the group. Nitrogen balance varied significantly across the group. Dressed weight, ham, loin, rib cage region, trotter, tail, abdominal fat thickness and carcass length were not affected by dietary treatment; conversely, shoulder, head, back fat thickness and carcass length was significantly (P<0.05) affected by dietary treatment. The weight of liver, kidney, spleen, small intestine was significantly (P<0.05) affected by dietary treatment; while heart, lungs, empty stomach and large intestine was not affected. The haematology data revealed that red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) significantly (P<0.05) differ across the treatment group while pack cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was unaffected by dietary treatment. Feed cost data revealed that total feed intake (TFI), total feed cost (TFC) and cost per kg weight gain (C/kg WG) differ significantly (P<0.05) across the group while total weight gain (TWG) was unaffected. In conclusion, up to 30% in experiment 3 of DCRC can be incorporated without any adverse effect. DCRC being a component of pig feed will reduce supplemental inorganic phosphorus, lowered feed cost, lowered the amount of phosphorus excreted in the manure and reduce environmental pollution. DCRC can be used as feed additives in terms of enzymes, probiotics, prebiotics, dietary amino acids, toxin binders, minerals, vitamins and bypass protein. DCRC is not a waste but promising feedstuff in pig feed.