Studies On Feed Grain Replaced By Alfalfa Meal In Diet Of Finishing Pigs And Economic Benefit Analysis

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of alfalfa meal on growth performance and meat quality of finishing pigs. A total160of crossed growing pigs (DurocxLandracex Yorkshire), weighted about60kg, sorted by weight and gender, were allotted to5treatments, with4replicates per treatment and8pigs per replicate. The treatments were control group, group Ⅰ, group Ⅱ, groupⅢ and groupⅣ. Each experimental group were added0%,5%,10%,15%,20%alfalfa meal partially replace feed grain of based diet. The results were as follows:(1) Compared with control group, average daily gain and feed/gain ration of experimental groups were not significantly increased (P>0.05), but group Ⅱ was the best.(2) Compared with control group, dressing percentage and back fat thickness of experimental groups were not significantly increased (P>0.05). Loin eye area of experimental groups was significantly increased (P<0.05), and group Ⅱ was the best group.(3) In contrast to control group, the level of intramuscluar fat of group Ⅰ, group Ⅱ, groupⅢ were significantly improved. Compared with control group, the protein in muscle level of experimental groups were not significantly increased (P>0.05), but group Ⅱ was the best one.(4) Good economic benefics can be abtained when the diet of finishing pigs added alfalfa meal10percent in group Ⅲ and15percent in group Ⅳ, which replaceed part of the corn and soybean meal. The cost of feed formulation fell71yuan/t and58yuan/t, unit weight costs were down0.74yuan/kg and0.46yuan/kg, the gross profit increased by31.54yuan/head and31.54yuan/head, respectively. The best economic benefit was the diet added10%alfalfa meal. Comprehensive consideration of pig production performance, carcass traits and meat quality and economic benefits, the diet added10%alfalfa meal could get the best application effect. It can replace part of the feed grain of diet, also can reduce feed costs.