Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1978

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Animal Science

Major Professor

J. P. Hitchcock

Committee Members

Frank Masincupp, James A. Corrick Jr.

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the effect of extruded full-fat soybeans on growing and finishing pigs performance, nutrient utilization and carcass characteristics. For the growing-finishing trial, 108 growing and finishing pigs of an average weight of 26.9 kg were randomly allotted on the basis of sex, weight and litter to one of the 18 pens in an open front, concrete floor growing and finishing barn. These pigs were then fed one of the six experimental rations through a two hole self feeders until they attained a slaughter weight of 104.55 kg. They were then slaughtered and carcass data were collected following 24 hours of chilling. In the digestion trial, 12 barrows of an average weight of 90.91 kg were randomly allotted to one of 12 digestions crates for a digestion trial that lasted 9 days, of which 5 days was for adjustment and 4 days was for total fecal and urine collection. The data obtained from these experiments revealed no significant differences in the average daily gain, average daily feed intake, total weight gained, total feed intake, feed efficiency and body weight during the growing and finishing periods and at the end of the feeding trial. Also, in all carcass traits measured namely backfat thickness, backfat around the loin eye, muscling score, chilled carcass length and chilled carcass weight, there were not statistically significant differences among the various pigs fed various experimental diets. However, in almost all traits observed during the feeding trial, pigs on extruded soybean meal-milo did better than the rest and got to market weight a little earlier than the rest. From the results obtained from the data collected from the digestion trial, only digestible ether extract was significantly different among the values obtained from the various rations. Ration 3 and 4 values were not significantly different from each other. This held true for rations 1 and 3. However, rations 1, 3, and 4 values were significantly different from that of ration 2. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that extruded soybeans could replace soybean meal as a protein supplement if it is cheaper to do so. Also, it was concluded that grain sorghum could replace corn as an energy source. However, the amount of cereal grain that could be used in meeting the energy requirement of the ration could be cut back by using extruded full-fat soybean as a protein and energy source.

Download
Files over 3MB may be slow to open. For best results, right-click and select "save as..."

Share

COinS