Quality evaluation of pigs fed poultry by-products

Abstract

Effect of consuming solely poultry-by-products by grower pigs, instead of conventional feeds was the focus of this study. Thirty–six Large White male pigs of 6 weeks 5.7 – 7.5kg were fed Boiled Dead Birds (BDB) (T3), Boiled Hatchery Waste BHW (T2) and conventional pig food PKC (T1). Thus, there were three treatments with 12 pigs per treatment. The pigs were reared for 10 weeks over which the chemical composition, performance and digestibility studies, carcass and organ function, serum and haematological status, and physico – chemical analysis and palatability were evaluated. The study was arranged as a completely randomized design. Daily weight gain, daily feed intake and body weight gain had highest (P<0.05) values of 107.45g. 105.31g and 4513.00g inT1 compared to T2 (37.52g, 63.39g and 1580.00g) and T3 (60.00g, 63.30g and 2520.00g) respectively. Pigs on T3 performed best in physico – chemical evaluation having the lowest (P<0.05) for thermal and cold shortening, cooking loss and thaw rigor but highest (P<0.05) values for water holding capacity than for T1 and T2. Lymphocyte values and white blood cell were best for T3 while T1 had highest in monophils. The T3 had lowest significant cholesterol value (106.80 mg/dL), than T2 (336.76 mg/dL) and T1 (123.88 mg/dL) while T1 did best (P<0.05) in glucose content (84.92 mg/dL), compared to T2 (60.22 md/dL) and T1 (66.63 mg/dL). The T1 had the highest palatability scores (P<0.05) for palatability status than T2 and T3. T1 performed best in palatability scores, performance evaluation and carcass and organ characteristics, while T2 and T3 led to higher physico – chemical properties, serum and haematological parameters, which had positive significant effect on the health status of the pigs.