Abstract

Aim: The study was conducted to improve pig feeding through the use of non-conventional ingredient sources on the substitution of wheat bran by spent grain meal for growth performance of Naima piglets.  

Method and materials: Total 25 piglets of the Naima hybrid breed, aged 75 days with an average weight of 10.36±4.98 kg were randomly assigned to five experimental groups corresponding to treatments T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ made up of rations containing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% spent grain meal, respectively, as a substitute for wheat bran in the rations. Feed intake and refusals were measured every morning. Animals were weighed every 7 days for weight performance assessment during 8 weeks.

Results: The results of this study showed an increase in feed consumption over time for all rations. In addition, the significantly highest mean feed consumption was obtained with animals in group T₂ (80.88 0.59 kg). The average live weight of pigs recorded with batch T₂(26.92±1.80 kg) was comparable to that obtained with batch T₁ (25.22±1.56 kg) but significantly higher than the values produced by batches T₀ (22.17±2.95 kg), T₃ (22.81±1.33 kg) and T₄ (22.84±3.04 kg). On the other hand, total gains, average daily gains and feed conversion were not significantly influenced by the rate of incorporation of brewers' spent grain in the rations.

Conclusion: It was concluded that brewers' spent grains are an agro-industrial by-product that can be used as an ingredient in the feed of fattening pigs.

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