Consequences of the use of ensiled sugar beet-pulp in the diet of heavy pigs on performances, carcass characteristics and nitrogen balance: a review

Data collected from several studies including unpublished data, carried out since 1988 at the University of Bologna, on the incorporation of pressed b eet pulp silage (PBPS) in the diet of heavy pigs (160 kg live weight (LW)) have been analysed collectively. Large amounts of PBPS (0.5 of dry matter ( DM) intake) in the diet were well tolerated by pigs (ranging in LW from 34 to 144 kg) and were associated with a marked reduction of gastric lesions. When used in practical diets from 44 to 153 kg LW at 170 g kg(-1) DM basis, PBPS did not modify either growing parameters or slaughtering performances of heavy pigs in comparison with animals receiving a concentrated diet mai nly based on cereals and soyabean meal. The use of PBPS did not modify the weight losses of hams (Parma ham) during their seasoning process, lasting m ore than 12 months for this typical product. Similarly, the fatty acid comp osition of cured ham fat was not influenced by the dietary inclusion of bee t pulp. when replacing barley (150 g kg(-1) DM basis), both plain or molass ed PBPS did not modify slaughtering parameters of heavy pigs and fatty acid composition of hams. Plain PBPS resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) incre ase of ADG in comparison with molassed PBPS and control diets. Vinasse-added PBPS replacing barley (100 g kg(-1) DM basis) did not result in any modification of growing and slaughtering parameters of heavy pigs ra nging in LW from 55 to 160 kg. At the inclusion level of 200 g kg(-1), vina sse-added PBPS resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) reduction of feed intak e and in a slight worsening of growth rate. Increasing levels (up to 240 g kg(-1) DM basis) of PBPS resulted in a significant (P < 0.01) reduction in organic matter digestibility while significantly (P < 0.01) reduced nitroge n excretion in urine. The significant (P < 0.05) trophic effect on large in testine mucosa and the high quality of PBPS fibrous fractions may explain t he positive role of this by-product in pig feeding and justify the possibil ity of a partial replacement of cereals such as barley in feed formulation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.