A comparison between barley and sorghum when combined with soybean meal or meat and bone meal in rations for growing pigs

Abstract

Two experiments are reported. In the first experiment, 48 Large White pigs were individually fed from 22.2 to 86.5 kg bodyweight, with rations containing either sorghum or barley in combination with 16.6, 13.8, 10.7, or 7.4 per cent soybean meal. Type of grain did not affect growth rate or feed efficiency but carcase measurements indicated that the barley-fed pigs were leaner. There were no significant differences in growth rate or feed efficiency between the 16.6 per cent and 13.8 per cent soybean meal rations before 45 kg bodyweight or between the 16.6 per cent, 13.8 per cent, or 10.7 per cent soybean meal rations after 45 kg bodyweight, but all rations containing the three higher levels of soybean meal gave significantly better growth rate and feed efficiency than the rations containing 7.4 per cent soybean meal for both bodyweight ranges. Final results showed no significant differences between the 16.6 per cent and the 13.8 per cent soybean meal rations in growth rate, feed efficiency, or carcase measurements of pigs receiving these rations, but growth data and carcase measurements were poorer with the two lower levels of soybean meal supplementation. In the second experiment, 40 Berkshire pigs were individually fed barley or sorghum grain with 15 per cent soybean meal or 20 per cent of one of three meat and bone meals. Pigs were fed from 25.8 to 74.0 kg bodyweight. The sorghum-based rations gave significantly better growth rates and feed efficiencics than the barley-based rations after 45 kg bodyweight, but carcase appraisal indicated greater lean content in the barley-fed pigs. Growth rates and feed efficiencies obtained with rations containing two of the meat and bone meals were significantly (P<0.05) less than values obtained with the rations containing soybean meal. Pigs fed the third meat and bone meal grew only slightly more slowly than those fed soybean meal. Type of supplement had no effect on carcase measurements.