Swine

Triticale-based Diets for Market Pigs in Deep-Bedded Hoop Barns: A Progress Report

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Abstract

Triticale-based diets were fed to pigs in deep-bedded hoop barns for a swine feeding study. Finishing pigs (240 head) were used to evaluate the dietary effects of triticalebased diets. The experiment was a randomized complete block design. There were four blocks (two summer, two winter); each block had three dietary treatments, with two replications per treatment. Each replication consisted of a pen of ten pigs (five barrows and five gilts).

Addition of triticale up to 80% of the diets for finishing pigs greater than 160 pounds to market weight in deepbedded hoop barns, compared with a corn-soybean meal diet, resulted in pigs that weighed slightly less, grew similarly, needed more feed per unit of liveweight gain, had more backfat and slightly smaller loin eye areas. Feed intake appeared to increase as triticale inclusion increased. Preliminary review of pork quality characteristics indicates no dietary effects.

There may be several factors that lead to these results. Because triticale-based diets are less energy dense than corn-based diets, pigs will compensate by consuming more feed. Although growth rate was similar for the experimental diets, pigs consuming triticale based-diets required more feed per liveweight gain. More research is warranted in this area.

Keywords: Animal Science

How to Cite:

Sullivan, Z. M., Honeyman, M. S. & Roush, W. B., (2005) “Triticale-based Diets for Market Pigs in Deep-Bedded Hoop Barns: A Progress Report”, Iowa State University Animal Industry Report 2(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/ans_air-180814-1084