Performance of Crossbred (Landrace × Local Indian) Finisher Barrows Fed Maize or Wheat Bran Based Diets: Short Note

Three groups of 7, 8 and 8 barrows (22 weeks age; 35 kg body weight), reared on grower diets were fed ad libitum on three isonitrogenous finisher diets containing 50, 71 and 92% wheat bran by replacing maize grain till the attainment of about 74 kg slaughter weight. Growth pattern, average daily gain, feed intake, feed/gain ratio and carcass traits were similar in all the groups. The digestibility of DM, OM, CF, NFE total carbohydrate and energy (DE) decreased (p<0.01) with the increased level of wheat bran in the diet. However, CP digestibility was comparable among all the diet and the digestibility of EE was significantly (p<0.01) higher in grainless diet ($FD_3$). It appears that maize grain may be completely replaced with wheat bran in the diet of crossbred pigs without any adverse effect on their performance with respect to feed intake, body weight gain and carcass characteristics.