Growth Performance and Carcass Quality of Large White Yorkshire Pigs Fed on Rations Containing Graded Levels of Samai (Panicum Miliare)

Samai (Panicum miliare), a drought resistant minormillet contained 8.8 per cent CP, 5.4 per cent EE, 7.7 per cent CF, 73.0 per cent NFE, 5.1 per net total ash, 17.6 per cent NDF and 10.5 per cent ADF on DM basis. GE content was 16.9 MJ/kg. In feeding trial I, Large white Yorkshire piglets reared on a diet containing 20 per cent samai reached 80 kg live weight in 126 d after weaning as against 136 and 152 d on diets containing zero and 60 per cent samai respectively. In trial II, the piglets on a grower ration containing 25 per cent samai had an average daily gain of 429 g as against 412 and 379 g on diets with zero and 50 per cent samai respectively. Similarly, the average daily gain was higher (641 g) on 17.5 per cent samai containing finisher ration when compared to zero (628 g) and 35 per cent (588 g) samai diets. The carcass characteristics, except for loin eye area, in trial II were not significantly different among various dietary treatments. In trial II, the piglets on 17.5 per cent samai containing finisher ration had better loin eye area (18.15 cm²) than either zero (16.62 cm²) or 35 per cent (15.68 cm²) samai diets.