Effect of different protein levels on growth performance of hampshire crossbred pigs in Assam

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of different protein levels on the feed intake, nutrient digestibility and growth rate in Hampshire crossbred × Assam local (75% × 25%) pigs. Twenty four pigs of about 3 months of age were divided into 4 groups with 6 animals in each group. The protein content of control (T₁) group was 18.15% and experimental groups were 19.85% (T₂), 16.27% (T₃) and 14.42% (T₄) respectively whereas energy level was 3170 KcalME/kg in all the groups. Average daily gain was significantly (P<0.05) lower in T₄ (256 g) and T₂ (271 g) compared to T₁ (307 g) and T₃ (333 g) whereas feed intake was similar in all the groups (P>0.05). Protein efficiency ratios was highest in T₃ (1.60) followed by T₄ (1.34) and was lowest in T₂ (1.16), whereas, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was similar in all the groups except T₄. Dry matter digestibility coefficient was similar in T₁, T₂ and T₃ and higher than T₄. CP digestibility coefficient was highest (70.59%) in T₃ followed by T₂ (63.53) and was lowest in T₁ and T₄ (61.96 and 55.06%). The digestibility coefficients of ether extract (p>0.05) ranged from72.06 (T₂) to 76.78 (T₄). The digestibility coefficient of crude fiber (p>0.05) ranged from 37.63 (T₂) to 46.17 (T₄). The digestibility coefficient of NFE was lowest in T₄ (50.54) and was similar in other 3 groups. The cost per kg gain in live weight was Rs.60.01, 61.00, 47.75 and 67.65 in group T₁, T₂ and T₃ and T₄ respectively. The present study revealed that ration having 16% CP and 3170 KcalME/kg, fed to group T₃ was suitable for growing Hampshire crossbred pigs in hot humid agro-climatic condition of Assam.