A note on partial replacement of maize with rice bran in the pig diet on meat and backfat fatty acids

Abstract

The effect of partial substitution of maize with rice bran (maize/rice bran, 62/38, w/w) on feed intake per animal, weight gain per animal at growing-finishing period (kg), feed conversion ratio, weight at slaughter (kg) and fatty acid composition of pork leg and backfat has been studied. The use of diets with maize and rice bran (MTRB) increased (P<0.05) the feed conversion ratio to 3.17 while a value of 3.02 was obtained when maize diets (M) were used. Weights at slaughter were 107.5 and 119.9 kg in animal feed with M/RB and M, respectively. The fatty acid composition of backfat and pork leg was modified by the use of rice bran. In general, tissues from animals fed with M/RB diets showed higher concentrations (P<0.05) of C18:2n-6, C18:3n-3 and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (n-6 and n-3) than that found in M diet.