title: Effects of the level of sugarcane molasses on growth and carcass performance of Caribbean growing pigs reared under a ground sugarcane stalks feeding system.
abstract: The influence of the level of sugarcane (SC) molasses on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in Creole (CR) growing pigs fed with ground sugarcane stalks (GCS)-based diet was studied in a mixed farming system context. The aim of the study was to optimize the growth performance of CR pigs with SC-molasses as an energy source in this unconventional feeding. A total of 32 CR pigs were used from 30 to 60 kg of body weight (BW). The experimental dietary treatments consisted of four levels of inclusion of SC-molasses (200, 400, 600, and 800 g DM/d/pig) into a GCS diet, for diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The GCS allowance was based on live BW (170 g/kg BW/d) and the diets were supplemented with a soya-bean meal supplement (350 g/d of a 49.2% CP and 16.6 MJ DE/kg). All the pigs were slaughtered at 60 kg BW. Increasing the level of molasses did not affect (p > 0.05) average BW gain (254 g/d), CP intake (154 g/d) and sugar extraction rate from the total ration (85%). A gradual inclusion of molasses in a GCS-based diet did not affect the carcass and meat quality of CR pigs. In conclusion, molasses supplementation does not allow the increase of growth performance in GCS fed pigs.
authors: INRA, UR143, Recherches Zootechniques, Petit-Bourg, 97170, France.
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Xandé
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Archimède
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Gourdine
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Anais
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Renaudeau
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D017691:Caribbean Region; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D008965:Molasses; D011897:Random Allocation; D031786:Saccharum; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism