Comparison between fish meal and two Queensland meat and bone meals in bacon pig production

Abstract

Fish meal, containing 64 per cent crude protein, was fed at a level of 10 per cent, as a protein supplement, in rations based on grain sorghum. Food conversion and daily gain of pigs fed this diet, from shortly after weaning to bacon weight, was superior to that obtained on diets containing either 14 per cent of a 65 per cent or 16 per cent of a 49 per cent crude protein meat and bone meal. Superior performance was also obtained when this diet was compared with two mixtures of the lower protein meat and bone and fish meal. There was no significant difference in performance when the fish meal diet was compared with a mixture of the higher protein meat and bone and fish meal. In spite of its high cost the imported fish meal was a very economical supplement.