Effect of Graded Levels of Soybean Hull on Blood, Carcass and Organ Characteristics of Grower Pigs

Abstract

The effects of diets containing graded levels of toasted soybean hull (SBH) on hematological indices, carcass and organ weights of grower pigs were investigated. Twenty-four male hybrid (large white x landrace) weaner pigs, about 6 weeks old, weighing 5.92 - 6.85 kg were randomly divided into four groups with  six pigs per group and assigned to four experimental  diets (2800 kcal/kg ME and 18% CP)  containing 0% (control), 10, 15 and 20% SBH, respectively  for 56 days (8 weeks). Each treatment was replicated 3 times with 2 pigs per replicate placed on concrete-floored pens. During the 8^th week of the experiment, blood samples were collected from two pigs per treatment for hematological evaluation. Two pigs per treatment were also slaughtered for carcass evaluation. Results showed that pigs fed the control diets had comparable (p>0.05) packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), red blood cell counts (RBC), white blood cell counts (WBC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) values with the groups on SBH diets. The heart girth circumference, heart weight, kidney weight, live body weight, and dressed carcass weight were all significantly (p<0.05) affected by the dietary levels of SBH. The dressing percentage, relative weights of lungs, liver and spleen were also influenced significantly (p<0.05) by the dietary levels of SBH. It was concluded that toasted soybean hull can be included in the diet of grower pigs at 30% level without adverse effects on the hematological values, carcass and organ weights of the animals.