Department of Animal Sciences, Wollega University, P.O. Box 395, Nekemte, Ethiopia
1P.O. Box 708, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
3International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
This study was conducted to examine the effect of feeding different proportions of sun-dried bovine rumen contents (SDRC) on intake, digestibility, growth and haematology of weaned piglets. A total of 20 weaned Yorkshire piglets (~7 weeks; 12.15±4.66 kg BW) were divided into 4 groups of 5 animals each using complete randomized design. The SDRC was included at 0, 5, 10 and 15% levels in treatments T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The intakes of DM, CP and NDF were similar in all the treatments. The average ADF intake was higher (P<0.05) for the 15% SDRC diet as compared to the control diet. The dietary inclusion of SDRC in ration of weaner pigs did not affect nutrient digestibility. The growth performance of the animals fed 5 and 10% SDRC containing diets was similar to that of control diet. However, average weight gain was lower (P<0.05) in pigs fed 15% SDRC diet in comparison to other diets. Dietary treatments did not have any adverse effect on the haematological parameters like PCV, RBC and WBC. It was concluded that sun-dried bovine rumen content could be included in the diet of weaned piglets up to 10% level without adverse effects on the growth performance and haematological values in weaned piglets.
Sun-dried rumen contents, Blood parameters, Digestibility of nutrients, Growth, Weaned piglets
