NUTRITIVE-VALUE FOR PIGS OF A FORMIC-ACID PRESERVED BLOOD-MUCOSA PRODUCT

A digestibility and balance experiment was conducted to evaluate the n utritive value of formic acid preserved blood-mucosa product (FBM) for pigs. The FBM consisted of a mixture of slaughterhouse blood, gastroi ntestinal mucosa, and proteins and fat separated from slaughterhouse p rocess waters. The mixture was coagulated at 90 degrees C, filtered, s terilized at 120 degrees C for 20 min, and preserved with formic acid (12-14 l per 1000 kg). The FBM contained 171 g dry matter (DM) kg(-1), 680 g crude protein (CP) kg(-1) DM and 19.5 g crude fat (CF) kg(-1) D M. The experiment was conducted with eight barrows at live weights fro m 77 to 101 kg. The experimental diets were barley-based and supplemen ted with FBM or soya bean meal (SBM; 489 g CP kg(-1) DM) at two levels : 30 or 70 g CP kg(-1) DM. The apparent total tract digestibilities of nutrients in FBM and SBM were: organic matter 81.8 and 86.0%, CP 87.2 and 90.6%, CF 78.9 and 71.6%, and energy 80.8 and 84.6%, respectively . The digestible and net energy contents were 21.2 and 14.0 MJ kg(-1) DM for FBM, and 17.5 and 11.4 MJ kg(-1) DM for SBM, respectively, The pigs given FBM diets retained more nitrogen than those given SBM diets (P<0.05), which was most probably due to a higher lysine content in F BM compared to SBM (8.2 vs. 5.7 g per 100 g CP). The results indicate that FBM is a feasible protein and energy source for pigs. The high ly sine content in the product makes it a valuable feedstuff to be incorp orated into cereal-based diets.