Performance of growing pigs fed wheat, barley, or triticale

Abstract

Four groups of 12 Large White pigs (six boars and six gilts) were fed from 14 to 47 kg liveweight on diets based on Kite wheat, Coorong triticale, Clipper barley or 2231 barley. The diets were formulated to provide 0.56 g lysine/MJ digestible energy and were fed to supply three times the maintenance energy requirement. On both liveweight and carcass weight bases, the pigs fed the diet containing Coorong triticale grew more slowly than those fed Kite wheat (P < 0 01); there were no differences in backfat thickness. The efficiency of utilization of lysine was depressed to a greater extent than that of digestible energy. This was consistent with the lysine limitation of the diets and suggested that the growth depression was mediated through an effect on amino acid rather than energy utilization. Differences between the barley cultivars were less consistent: pigs fed 2231 had significantly higher liveweight but not carcass growth rate. There was no significant difference in backfat thickness. Differences in growth rate and the efficiency of lysine and digestible energy utilization were not associated with differences in trypsin inhibitor activity of the grains, nor was there evidence of undesirable nutritional effects associated with elevated beta glucan in barley 2231.