Home - Research - Research Results & Reports - Nutrition - Finishers - Report no. 767

Report no. 767


Christian Fink Hansen Birthe Pedersen Sussanne Bigum Mortensen
24.11.2006
Green meal in finisher feed does not affect the frequency of gastric changes, productivity or the colour of the fat

Abstract
The aim of this trial was to investigate whether the addition of lucerne green meal to finisher feed affected the frequency of gastric changes and whether lucerne green meal discoloured the fat in carcasses.

The trial comprised two groups:

Group 1:

Control

Group 2:

Trial feed including 10% lucerne green meal

The trial period covered the weight interval 29-109 kg. This randomised batch trial comprised a total of 240 pigs. Daily gain, gastric changes and colour of the fat were recorded for each pig, while the feed conversion was measured at pen level (12 pens/group). Furthermore, pH, dry matter and sedimentation in the gastric content of selected pigs were recorded.

The inclusion of lucerne green meal in the feed did not significantly affect the pigs’ productivity, the prevalence of gastric changes or pH, dry matter and sedimentation in the gastric content. The fat tended to be darker and was significantly more yellow in the pigs given 10% lucerne green meal in their feed compared with the control pigs. However, Danish Crown estimated that the differences in colour found in this trial had no importance in practice.
Danish Pig Production - Axeltorv 3 - DK-1609 Copenhagen V - Phone +45 3373 2700 - Fax +45 3311 2545