Effect of replacing fish-meal by soybean on digestibility, protein and minerals utilization in growing piglets

The present study was carried out on growing piglets maintained at the pig farm of university. Concentrate mixture T-1 (6.5% fish-meal), T-2 (fish-mea l was completely replaced by pressure- cooked crushed soybean), and T-3 (T- 2 supplemented with lysine and methionine @ 10 g/100 kg of feed) were used. The daily DM intake varied but differences were nonsignificant. The digest ibility coefficient of DM, CP, EE, CF, NFE and OM in various groups also di d not differ significantly. This shows that digestibility of soybean and it s various nutrients was higher than that of fish-meal. DCP, DE and ME of ra tion varied from 16.3 to 16.8%, 3.4 to 3.5 Mcal/kg and 2.8 to 2.9 Mcal/kg i n different groups, respectively Balance of N, Ca and P were positive in al l the 3 groups. The N and Ca-retention varied from 13.9 to 16.2 g and 2.8 t o 4.3 g/day, the difference within groups being nonsignificant. However, th e P-retention was significantly lower in T-1 (1.5 g/day) as compared T-2 (3 .2 g/day).