ADDING JERUSALEM-ARTICHOKE (HELIANTHUS-TUBEROSUS L) TO WEANLING PIG DIETS AND THE EFFECT ON MANURE COMPOSITION AND CHARACTERISTICS

Seventy-two weanling pigs, 28 days of age, were fed diets containing 0 , 1%, 3% or 6% Jerusalem artichoke (JA) meal for 4 weeks, Total feed c onsumed and feed efficiency were significantly (P < 0.059) affected by the addition of JA to the diet. The pigs eating the diets containing JA had significantly (P < 0.05) increased concentrations of six volati le fatty acids (VFA) in their manure; animals receiving the 3% JA diet had the highest VFA levels with the exception of valeric acid. The sm ell of fresh (less than 4 h) manure from the pigs eating 3% or 6% JA w as significantly (P < 0.005) sweeter, less sharp and pungent (P < 0.01 ), and had less of a skatole smell (P < 0.001) than pigs eating the 0% control diet. The manure from pigs eating JA was also judged to be li ghter in colour with significantly (P < 0.001) more brown and green bu t less yellow colour.