Acceptability and pattern of feed intake in pigs fed sugarcane molasses type B mixed with graded levels of Gliricidia sepium forage

Abstract

The effects of addition of Gliricidia sepium foliage meal (GSFM) to molasses on feed acceptability and pattern of intake were studied in six crossbred, castrate male pigs of 35 kg mean liveweight, distributed in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design with a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement. The factors evaluated were three levels of dietary substitution (0, 15, and 30% of GSFM) and two daily observational sessions (morning and afternoon). Feed intake was restricted to 8% of W3/4 and water was provided ad libitum. The experiment lasted 18 d with each of the three 6-d periods divided between 3 d for diet adaptation and 3 d for sampling. The interaction of the two factors had effects on meal size (P<0.001) and number of visits to the feed and water trough (P<0.001). Progressive inclusion of GSFM in the diets resulted in an extension (P<0.001) of eating time (from 13.0 to 75.9 min) and a decrease (P<0.001) in eating rate (from 51.6 to 10.4 g of fresh feed/min). Meal size was correlated (P<0.001) to dietary contents of crude fiber (-0.677) and neutral detergent fiber (-0.678) and more so to dietary water holding capacity (-0.999). The acceptability of a molasses diet with addition of GSFM was shown as was the efficacy of early morning feeding. Water holding capacity may be a good indicator to predict voluntary feed intake by pigs.