HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Myer, R. O. Articles by Brasher, C. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Myer, R. O. Articles by Brasher, C. L.

Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Swine as Affected by the Consumption of Peanuts Remaining in the Field After Harvest^1,2,

University of Florida^,3, Marianna 32446

Abstract

Two trials, each involving 30 pigs, were conducted to evaluate performance and carcass characteristics of swine allowed to "glean" (consume) peanuts remaining in the field after harvest during part or all of the growing-finishing (G-F) period of 27 to 103 kg. Each trial consisted of five treatments: 1) pigs fed a corn-soybean meal diet during the entire G-F period; 2) pigs fed a corn-soybean meal diet for the first two-thirds of the G-F period and then allowed to glean peanuts for the last third; 3) pigs fed a corn-soybean meal diet for the first third of the G-F period and then allowed to glean peanuts for the last two-thirds; 4) pigs allowed to glean peanuts for the first two-thirds and then fed a corn-soybean meal diet for the last third; and 5) pigs allowed to glean peanuts during the entire G-F period. Daily weight gain was lower (P<.05) for pigs allowed to glean peanuts during the G-F period compared with pigs fed a corn-soybean meal diet for the entire G-F period. The reduction in daily gain for pigs gleaning peanuts was proportional (P<.01) to the total weight gain from peanuts. Pigs that gleaned peanuts for two-thirds or, especially, the entire G-F period had softer carcass fat (P<.01) than pigs fed the corn-soybean meal diet the entire G-F period; however, fat firmness was not severely affected (P>.05) in pigs that were allowed to glean peanuts for the last one-third of the G-F period. For pigs that were allowed to glean peanuts for two-thirds of the G-F period, the feeding of a corn-soybean meal diet during either the first or last one-third of the G-F period had a similar (P>.05) effect on carcass fat firmness scores; however, backfat ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids indicated a greater "hardening" effect (P<.05) when the corn-soybean meal diet was fed during the last, rather than the first, one-third of the G-F period. Carcass lean content was not affected (P>.05) by treatment. The results of these trials indicate that allowing G-F pigs to obtain two-thirds of their weight gain from the consumption of peanuts and the other third from a corn-soybean meal diet would result in the production of carcasses that would likely be discriminated against by meat packers because of soft carcass fat. However, pigs can gain one-third of their weight gain during the G-F period from the consumption of peanuts, even the last third, and produce acceptable carcasses.

¹ Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series No. 6265.

² The assistance of Janet Eastridge, Caren Prichard, Gail Schultz, Carl Wigington, Harvey Standland, John Crawford and Mary Chambliss is gratefully acknowledged.

³ Agr. Res. and Education Center.

⁴ Dept. of Anim. Sci., Univ. of Florida, Gainesville 32611.

⁵ Coop. Ext. Ser., Jackson Co., Marianna 32446.