Effect of dietary rape seed meal on growth performance and meat quality of growing-fattening pigs

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the nutritive value of rapeseed meal (RSM) as a protein source for pigs, and the effect of graded inclusion levels of RSM as a replacement for imported soybean meal (SBM) on growth performance and carcass quality of pigs. Two trials were conducted, a digestibility trial, and a growth performance trial. In the digestibility trial, which lasted 38 days, four castrated male Large White × Landrace pigs with an initial bodyweight of 40.3 ± 2.4 kg were used. Digestible energy (DE) per kg of RSM, digestibility energy of RSM and the apparent digestibility coefficients (%) of RSM nutrients were assessed by the method of difference. A total of 64 (Large White × Landrace) pigs with average initial bodyweight of 11 ± 1.3 kg were used in the growth performance trial. The experiment lasted 15 weeks, and was divided into three growth stages. The RSM was added to the pig diets at levels from 1% to 21%. The dietary level of glucosinolates (GLS) ranged from 0.149 μmol/g to 3.129 μmol/g and RSM replaced from 3.4% to 100% of the SBM in the diets. It was proven that up to 15% of RSM of Greek origin with a GLS content of 14.9 μmol/g could be used in nutritionally balanced diets as an alternative to imported soybean meal for growing-finishing pigs, as it provides economic benefits and has positive effects on growth performance and carcass quality.