Assessing the efficiency of using a modern hybrid rye cultivar for pig fattening, with emphasis on production costs and carcass quality

Abstract

There were two goals of the present experiment, namely (1) to determine and compare the concentrations of basal nutrients and anti-nutrients in the grain of a modern hybrid rye and barley cultivars, and (2) to compare the effectiveness of the rye- and barley-containing diets for pig fattening. Crude protein and starch contents were greater (P < 0.01) in rye (cv. Visello) than in barley (cv. Bryl) but fibre and total lipid concentrations were lower (P < 0.01) in rye grain. Mean concentrations of alkylresorcinols and pentosans, as well as the activity of trypsin inhibitors, were all higher (P < 0.01) in rye grain. In all, 150 PIC gilts were randomly divided into two equinumerous groups; control pigs were fed a diet containing barley as the main cereal ingredient (starter phase (SP), 35% of feed content; grower phase (GP), 40% of feed content; and finisher phase (FP), 65% of feed content), while the experimental group received a diet with rye replacing a proportion of barley (10% during SP, 25% during GP and 50% during FP); the diets for both subsets of animals also contained wheat and soybean meal to obtain a proper level of nutritional value. The average weight gain of the rye-fed gilts (783 ± 183 g/day; mean ± s.d.) was greater (P < 0.05) than that of control animals (747 ± 218 g/day). This difference in weight gain was due mainly to an increase in daily feed intake (2.35 ± 0.21 and 2.15 ± 0.19 kg/day in the experimental and control groups, respectively; P < 0.01) recorded during the grower and finisher phase. Carcasses from both groups exhibited the same lean meat content; however, the percentage of carcasses in the higher classes according to the EUROP quality scale tended to be greater in the experimental group, which resulted in a higher (P < 0.05) carcass value than for barley-fed controls. The present results indicated that a modern rye cv. Visello is a safe and cost-effective feed for growing pigs, and yields significantly better outcomes than commonly used barley-containing diets in terms of carcass quality and price.

Production value and cost-effectiveness of pig fattening using liquid feeding or enzyme-supplemented dry mixes containing rye grain

“…Generally, the present results are in Table 6. Calculation of simplified direct surplus from pig fattening using barley-or rye-based liquid feeding (LC and LE, respectively) or rye-containing dry mixes with or without 0.01% xylanase (DC and DE, respectively) (Schwarz et al 2015). The addition of yeast for fermentation of wet fodder ~10 h prior to feeding resulted in lower feed to gain ratios in rye-fed as compared to barley-fed gilts.…”

“…Extensive genetic selection has resulted in substantial lowering of the anti-trypsin activity of several modern rye varieties (Makarska et al 2007); even though it remained higher than in other cereal grains, its content was lower than in the primary source of protein -the soybean meal (Kim and Baker 2003;Schwarz et al 2015). Nevertheless, the use of new rye cultivars with reduced anti-trypsin activity for pig fattening was still associated with suboptimal or variable results.…”

“…alkylresorcinols, pentosans, and tripsin inhibitors), and is also highly resistant to ergot contamination due to the application of the POLLENPLUS ® technology (www.kws-lochow.pl/ odmiany/wszystkie-odmiany/zboze/zyto/odmiana/ visello.html). The use of Visello cultivar was associated with greater weight gains and improved carcass quality (EUROP classification system) of fattener pigs in comparison to traditional barley-containing dry mixes, albeit the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of rye was still less compared with that of barley, increasing the overall cost of feeding (Schwarz et al 2015).…”

“…Over the past several years, however, a number of new rye varieties with significantly reduced content of anti-nutritive substances have become available on the market (Makarska et al 2007;Jurgens et al 2012). Many of these new varieties have been tested as the primary feed ingredient (≥ 50% of total feed content) for fattener pigs in commercial operations (Hooper et al 2002;Schwarz et al 2015). In a recent study, we assessed and compared the fattening and slaughter parameters of pigs that had received dry mixes prepared with barley or Visello rye grain as the main raw component doi: 10.17221/73/2015-CJAS (Schwarz et al 2015).…”

“…Many of these new varieties have been tested as the primary feed ingredient (≥ 50% of total feed content) for fattener pigs in commercial operations (Hooper et al 2002;Schwarz et al 2015). In a recent study, we assessed and compared the fattening and slaughter parameters of pigs that had received dry mixes prepared with barley or Visello rye grain as the main raw component doi: 10.17221/73/2015-CJAS (Schwarz et al 2015). This rye variety is characterized by a reduced concentration and activity of all major anti-nutrients (i.e.…”