Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Abstract

A feeding trial for a period of 114 days was carried out using thirty six weaned Large White Yorkshire x Desi piglets (18 males and 18 females) to assess the effect of phytase supplementation on growth and nutrient digestibility. The animals were divided into three groups and were fed with the three experimental rations, T1- Control ration containing 0.6 per cent calcium and 0.3 per cent phosphorus, T2 - Control ration without any mineral supplements and with 750 units of phytase/kg feed and T3-Control ration without phytase and mineral supplementation. Blood samples were collected before the start of the experiment and on 85th day of the experiment. Digestibility trial was conducted towards the end of the experiment. The average final body weight was 67.79, 69.54, and 64.75kg and the average daily gain (ADG) was 0.51, 0.53 and 0.48 kg for animals of T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The feed conversion efficiency of the animals of the three treatment groups was 5.65, 5.52 and 5.79, respectively. There was no difference (P>0.05) with regard to body weight between pigs of treatments T1, T2 and T3 in fortnights 0, 1, 2, 3 and 5 whereas, body weight of pigs belonging to T2 was higher (P<0.05) than that of T3 in fortnights 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9. There was no difference in body weight of animals belonging to T1 and T2 in all the fortnights. There was no difference in feed efficiency among pigs reared under the three dietary treatments. The percentage digestibility of nutrients in the three rations T1, T2 and T3 were 86.11, 87.92 and 87.95 for  DM, 83.63, 85.31 and 84.97 for CP, 52.81, 53.89 and 53.89 for EE, 55.49, 57.41 and 55.94 for CF and 92.22, 93.55 and 93.56 for NFE, respectively. There was no difference in digestibility of nutrients and plasma biochemical parameters among pigs reared under the three dietary treatments. Cost of feed per kg body weight gain of pigs maintained on the three dietary treatments was Rs. 65.73, 59.90 and 62.44 respectively, the difference was significant (P< 0.01) on statistical analysis. Feed cost /kg gain of T1 pigs was higher than that of T2 (P< 0.01) and T3 (P< 0.05). But the difference in the cost of production between T2 and T3 was non significant (P>0.05). It can be concluded that phytase supplementation decreased feed cost / kg gain.