Effect on growth performance and carcass quality of fattening pigs of replacing protein concentrate by a mix of coconut meal and catfish residue

Le Thi Men

Can Tho University, Vietnam
ltmen@ctu.edu.vn

Abstract

A trial was carried out on 25 growing pigs of crossbred Duroc x (Yorkshire x Ba Xuyen) type, a breed that was popular for meat production now in the rural areas of the Mekong Delta. The experimental pigs with an average initial live weight of 51 kg and mean final weight of 93 kg. The design was 5 dietary treatments. The control diet was based on rice bran, broken rice and the protein concentrate (PC). The experimental treatments had 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the protein concentrate replaced by the mix of coconut meal (40) and catfish residue (60): (CM+CFR)25, (CM+CFR)50, (CM+CFR)75 or (CM+CFR)100.  

The average daily weight gain was highest in the (CM+CFR) 50, however the difference was not significant (P>0.05) between treatments. Similarly, feed conversion ratio was significantly lower (P<0.05) by the (CM+CFR) 50 treatment in comparison to the control diet. Carcass backfat thickness was not affected by the dietary treatments. Contrary, the iodine index of backfat were reduced for firmer fat as mean which had improved the saturated fatty acid contents in total lipid (C12:0, C14:0, C16:0) by incorporation of (CM+CFR) increased in the diets. The pH value of fresh pork loin was normal for all treatments. The protein concentration of pig meat was higher in experimental treatments than in the control diet. Feed cost and cost performance tended to be lower for (CM+CFR) 100 than for other diets. Overall, results suggest that a mix of coconut meal and catfish residue would be recommended as a protein supplement in pig diets in the region.

Key words: Fatty acids, feed cost, iodine index, pork loin, weight gain

Introduction

Commercial protein concentrate has used as a protein supplement common in the pigs’ diets, but the additional costs of concentrate feed often become a financial burden for the farms in the region. Therefore, the demand of mixed types in agro-industrial by- product such as coconut meal and catfish residue need to be researched as a protein replacement and increasing incomes.

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is one of the most prevalent fruits in the region (Photo 1), while its oil is the main mid-industrial product mostly used as a component of vegetable cooking oils. The semi-industrial by-product, the residue after the oil extraction is known as coconut meal. As its CP content is improved to over 22.0 % and EE equal 6.7 % (on DM basis). Much proportion of poly saturated fatty acid (PFA, 93 %), dominant of lauric acid (C12:0 = 48.8 %) in total lipid to desire for firmer fat deposition of fattening pigs (Le Thi Men et al 2007; Le Thi Men et al 2010).

The catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) cultivation in the region induced abundant residues and the whole small fish are processed to give raw catfish meal (Photo 2), containing crude protein level of 53% with high lysine level of 4.5%, and EE of 20% in dry matter (Le Thi Men et al 2005). This source of protein and energy supplement can be applied in animal feeding (Gohl 1981, McDonald et al 1995, Le Thi Men et al 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010), especially in pig production in the Mekong Delta.

The hypotheses

·         A mix of coconut meal and catfish residue can replace the protein concentrate in diets for fattening pigs without affecting the pig growth performance and carcass quality.

·         Opposite characteristic of oils in coconut meal (C12:0) and catfish residue (C18:1, C18:2, C18:3) can be assisted together in fat deposition adapted to the meat processing and consumer demand.

Materials and methods

Feeding trial

The 25 Duroc x (Yorkshire -Ba Xuyen) type individual growing pigs had 51.0 ± 1.7 kg and 93.5± 1.8 kg for mean initial and final live weights, respectively. The design was conducted with 5 dietary treatments. The control diet was based on rice bran, broken rice and protein concentrate (PC). The experimental treatments were based on the same ingredients and 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of protein concentrate was replaced by a mix of coconut meal (40) and catfish residue (60), respectively. The growing pigs were fed 3 times per day, and daily amounts of feed according to 3.0-3.5% of body weight and dietary treatments. There was free access to drinking water for pigs.

Measurement

Samples of each feedstuff were taken, and the contents of DM, CP, CF, EE were analyzed according to AOAC (2000) and fatty acids by chromatography (Jacobs et al 2000); ME was estimated according to the National Institute of Animal Husbandry (1995). All pigs were weighed at the initial and final time point of the trial. Feed refusal in every pen was corrected every day.

Parameters to be measured: Daily weight gain, feed intake and FCR during period. Back fat thickness at two opposite points, 6 cm apart from the midline, at the 10-12^th ribs was estimated by using ultrasonic equipment (RENCO Co., Ltd., USA) at the time measurement of final live weight (Photo 3). Carcass performance and carcass quality were control and determine the iodine index of backfat extracted by the Wijs method using iodine monochloride (Pham Van So & Bui Thi Nhu Thuan 1991) and fatty acid content. Samples of fresh pork loin (Photo 4) were taken for evaluating color (color standard), marbling (marbling standard), drip loss (%) and ultimate pH. The chemical composition of pork was continued to analyze the DM, EE, CP and ash. Feed cost and cost performance (feed cost per kg weight gain) were also calculated.

Statistical analyses

Data were analyzed by ANOVA using the Basic statistics and General Linear Model of Minitab Statistical Software version 13. Sources of variation were treatments. The Tukey test for paired comparisons was used to separate means when the differences were significant at the 5% level.

Results and discussion

Pig Feeding

Chemical compositions of the feedstuffs used in the trial were analyzed before formulating the experimental diets (Table 1).

Ingredients, chemical compositions and energy of the experimental diets for fattening pigs are shown in Table 2.

Growth performance was not significant difference between dietary treatments (P>0.05). However, feed conversion ratio was better by the (CM+CFR)50 diet in comparison to the control diet. Feed cost (Table 2) and cost performance, defined as feed cost per kg weigh gain tended to be lower for (CM+CFR)100 (75%) than for other diets, especially for control diet (100 %) (Table 3).

Results on carcass performance such as carcass yield and loin eye area were not significant difference between diets (P>0.05). Contrary, backfat thickness was affected lower (P<0.05), effectively for the (CM+CFR)50 diet to compare with others (Table 4).

Carcass quality like meat color, marbling, ultimate pH and drip loss showed normal values for the meat RFN (reddish pink, firm and non-exudativerose) according to Hollis (1993) and Baas (1999). The traits of pork quality were significant higher (P<0.01) in CP or lower in EE contents by (CM+CFR)50 diet than for others. Iodine index value of backfat was significantly reduced (P<0.05) by incorporation of CM increased in the diets, especially the present of saturated fatty acids – SFA (lauric, myristic, palmitic) (Figure 1) resulted in firmer fat deposit (Gohl 1981, McDonald et al 1995) (Table 5).

Conclusions

• A mix of coconut meal and catfish residue can replace whole of protein concentrate in a diet for fattening pigs to improve the pig growth performance, carcass quality and feed benefit

• Characteristic of oils in coconut meal (SFA) and catfish residue (UFA) can be assisted together in fat deposition for fattening pigs adapted to the consumer and meat processing demand (lower backfat thickness and better taste) and meat processing (firm fat)

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References

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