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Report no. 463

Abstract
The effect of increasing amounts of extracted rapeseed in feed for finishers (28-101 kg) was studied in one herd.

The test comprised six groups where the amount of extracted rapeseed in the feed constituted 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%, respectively. Extracted rapeseed gradually replaced soybean meal in the feed. The lot of extracted rapeseed used was a regular commodity of German origin, and was thus not characterized according to type. The content of glucosinolates in this lot was low, which is most likely due to the fact that the glucosinolates had been disintegrated during a too heavy heat-treatment of the extracted rapeseed. The test comprised 72 pigs per group divided into 24 replicates.

An increased amount of extracted rapeseed in the feed did not cause the pigs to increase their consumption of water.

There was a significant curve-linear drop in the production value with increasing amounts of extracted rapeseed in the feed when calculated on the basis of the achieved production results. This drop is mainly due to a decreasing daily weight gain and a poorer feed conversion. With the financial prerequisites used, these differences mean that the feed price must be reduced when the content of extracted rapeseed in finisher feed exceeds 5%. Thus, if 10% or 25% extracted rapeseed is added to finisher feed, the feed should be DKK 1.10/100 kg and DKK 14.00/100 kg, respectively, cheaper than a corresponding feed product with soybean meal as its protein source.

If extracted rapeseed of superior quality is used, ie. with a low content of glucosinolates and their disintegration products, previous tests have shown that up to 15% extracted rapeseed may be used in finisher feed without causing a reduction in the production results. On the other hand, this test shows that the production results decrease with an increasing amount of extracted rapeseed of an inferior quality, ie. with a high content of glucosinolates and their disintegration products. If there is any doubt as to the quality of the extracted rapeseed used, it is estimated that the feed price should drop when the content in finisher feed exceeds 5%.

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