Author(s): Castro, Frederico Cancela de Abreu de Melo e
Date: 2009
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/1058
Origin: Repositório da UTL
Subject(s): pig; digestibility; crude protein; tannins; PEG; acorn; porco alentejano; digestibilidade; proteina bruta; bolota; tanino
Mestrado em Engenharia Zootécnica - Produção animal - Instituto Superior de Agronomia
During the fattening period of Alentejano pigs in the montanheira system, acorns are the main feed resource, however pasture is recognized to have also an important role. Although acorns and pasture have been extensively studied, there is verylittle information about their intake and digestive utilization by Alentejano pigs. The present work aims to study the effect of acorn tannins on crude protein (CP) digestibility and the role of pasture intake on the alleviation of the effects of acorn tannins on diet digestibility. The effect of acorn tannins on the digestibility of different sources of protein was evaluated using an in vitro protein digestibility assay. An in vivo assay with Alentejano pigs consuming acorn and pasture was carried out to evaluate the effect of pasture type (Lolium westerwoldicum or Trifolium incarnatum) and polyethylene glycol treatment of acorns (2x2 factorial design) on pasture intake and diet digestibility. Acorn tannins had a negative effect on apparent and true CP digestibility (about 20% with PEG addition). Intake of acorns was, on average 2,9kgOM/day Pasture intake tended to be higher in the Lolium westerwoldicum pastures, however this higher grass intake didn’t contribute to a higher CP intake or digestibility.
