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Performance of Growing-Finishing Swine Fed High Levels of Alfalfa Meal: Effects of Alfalfa Level, Dietary Additives and Antibiotics^1,2,

Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331

Abstract

The response of growing-finishing swine to high levels of dietary alfalfa meal was examined. In trial 1, pigs were fed barley-based diets containing 0, 20, 40 or 60% alfalfa meal. Average daily gain (ADG) was reduced and feed/gain increased (P<.05) with each increment in alfalfa level. Voluntary feed intake was similar at each alfalfa level, but intake of digestible energy dropped with increasing dietary alfalfa. This suggests that, because of low palatability or other factors, pigs fed alfalfa-containing diets do not eat sufficient feed to meet their energy requirements. Dressing percentage and backfat thickness decreased with increasing alfalfa level. In trial 2, several additives (ASP-250®, bentonite, glutamic acid and wheat bran) were included in a diet containing 40% alfalfa. The ADG was increased (P<.05) only with the ASP-250® supplementation. In trial 3, ASP-250® and Virginiamycin were compared as additives for growing-finishing diets containing 0 and 20% alfalfa. In the grower phase, ADG was higher (P<.05) when ASP-250® was included in the diet than when no drug was added. In trial 4, ASP-250® was added to diets with 0 or 30% alfalfa, and, at both alfalfa levels, ADG was increased (P<.01). These results suggest that antibiotic supplementation improves the performance of pigs fed high dietary alfalfa levels. In trial 5, alfalfa meal was substituted for soybean meal to supply 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 75% of the protein provided by soybean meal. ADG was slightly depressed at all levels of added alfalfa, because of reduced caloric intake. The primary reason for reduced performance of growing-finishing pigs fed alfalfa meal appears to be an unfavorable effect on caloric intake. Pigs do not compensate for lower dietary energy levels by increasing their feed intake when alfalfa-containing diets are fed.

¹ Oregon Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Paper No. 5633.

² This research was partially supported by a grant from Smith Kline Animal Health Products, Philadelphia, PA. Smith Kline also provided the Virginiamycin. The cooperation of Dr. Larry Kennedy of Smith Kline in the conduct of this research is appreciated. The cooperation of Mr. John Hansell, of Hansell Bros., Inc., Hermiston, OR, who provided the pigs and feed used in trial 5, is gratefully acknowledged.

³ Dept. of Anim. Sci.

⁴ Cooperative Extension Service, Univ. of Hawaii, 310 Kaahumanu Avenue, Bldg. 214, Kahului, Maui 96732.

⁵ Columbai Basin Agricultural Research Center, Hermiston, OR 97838.