Nutrient Digestibility and Gmowth Performance in Pigs Fed Finisher Ration Sufplementeb with Amaranthus Forage

Eighteen finisher pigs (67.3±4.63 kg) were randomly divided into 2 groups of 9 each. Control (C) group was feci on 2 kg standard finisher ration, while treatment group (T) was fed chopped (0.5–1 inch size) Amaranthus (Amaranthus cruentus) fodder ad libitum along with finisher ration (2kg) for 40 d. Amaranthus harvested at 70 d (moisture 90’%) contained CP, 16.0; EE, 1.85; CF, 17.9; NFE, 42.6; and total ash, 21.7% 00 DM basis, Voluntary intake of chopped green Amaranthus was 89 g/d. The average daily gain (ADG) in treatment group was 15%. higher than in control group but differences were non-significant. Digestibilities of CP and EE were significantly (P<0.01) higher in treatmentgroup than in control group. Green chopped Amaranthus can be fed to finisher pigs along with finisher ration for profitable pig production.