The effect of rapeseed meal in the diet of young pigs on digestibility of diets and pig performance

Abstract

Twenty-five pigs, weaned at approximately three weeks of age, were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments containing increasing levels of low glucosinolate rapeseed meal (0, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0 per cent) substituted for equal amounts of protein from meat and bone meal. The diets were offered ad libitum and the pigs' performance and digestibility were recorded from approximately 5 to 21 kg liveweight. The level of rapeseed meal in the diet did not significantly affect either the voluntary feed intake, food conversion ratio, growth rate or dry matter digestibility. However, food wastage significantly increased as the level of rapeseed meal in the diet was increased from 1.5 to 9.0 per cent. Food wastage was significantly correlated with the level of rapeseed meal in the diet.