Feeding qualities of piglets using non-traditional ingredients as part of complete combined feed

Abstract

Among the large number of non-traditional feeds used in the diets of farm animals, apple pomace occupies a prominent place. Like the raw materials, they contain many valuable nutrients and biologically active substances. The inclusion of apple pomace in the diet of animals allows not only to increase their productive qualities, but also to save a significant amount of grain feed and prevent environmental pollution. The purpose of the experimental research was to study the effect of feeding compound feed to fattening piglets with different proportions of flour from apple pomace on the quality of their slaughter products. The research was conducted on piglets of a large white breed of French breeding. During the fattening period, the piglets of the research groups were fed compound feed with different proportions of apple flour (5%, 10 and 15% by weight). It was established that compared to the control group, in the pigs’ meat from experimental groups the content of total moisture decreased by 0.4-0.6% and fat by 0.1-0.5%. In terms of protein content, the piglets from experimental groups prevailed by 0.5-1.0% of their peers from the control group. At the same time, there is a tendency to increase the energy and biological value of the pigs’ meat, which during the fattening period were fed apple pomace flour in the amount of 5 and 10% by weight instead of barley grain. Regarding the quality of adipose tissue, a slight increase in total moisture content by 0.1-0.8% and a decrease in fat content by 0.5-1.7% was observed in the piglets from experimental groups, compared to similar indicators in the control group. The results of studies of physicochemical indicators of adipose tissue indicate some advantages of the fat of piglets from the control group. In particular, the melting temperature of pig fat in experimental groups was higher by 0.9-1.7 °C, and the iodine value of fat was lower by 3.3-7.1%, compared to the control group. It has been proven that the use of flour from apple pomace in the composition of 139 compound feed for fattening piglets does not significantly affect the quality of their muscle and fatty tissues, while at the same time it allows to save part of expensive grain feed and thereby increase the efficiency of pork production.