Author(s)

Samorn Sreng^1*, Sath Keo², J. M. DeRouchey³, M. D. Tokach³, Lyda Hok^4,5, J. L. Vipham³

¹Faculty of Animal Science, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
²Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
³Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA.
⁴Faculty of Agronomy, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
⁵Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

A total of 60 castrated male pigs (Yorkshire x Duroc, initially 17.36 kg) were used in a 42-day trial to evaluate the effect of complete feed feeding level and morning glory on growth performance of growing pigs. Pigs were allotted to pens and randomly assigned to three dietary treatments: A) completed feed fed ad libitum; B) complete feed fed at 75% of intake of treatment A, and C) treatment B with ad libitum availability of morning glory. The design was a completely randomized design (CRD) with five pens (replications) of each treatment with four pigs per pen. Average daily feed intake (dry matter basis) was higher (P < 0.001) for pigs fed treatment A (1420 g/d) compared to treatment B (1048 g/d) as expected, with treatment C intermediate (1178 g/d; 1048 g/d complete feed + 130 g/d morning glory). Average daily weight gain of pigs fed ad libitum was greater (P < 0.001) than pigs restricted fed with pigs which provide morning glory intermediate (871, 674 and 714 g, respectively). Feed efficiency improved (P < 0.024) for pigs fed the restricted feed level compared to pigs fed complete feed ad libitum or pigs restricted fed but provided morning glory (1.63, 1.56 and 1.65, respectively). For economics, feeding complete feed ad libitum improved (P < 0.001) income over feed cost compared to restricted feeding or providing morning glory (USD 41.48, 33.42, and 33.89/pig, respectively). In conclusion, feeding growing pigs a complete diet ad libitum resulted in the greatest growth rate and profitability. Offering morning glory (Ipomoea. aquatica) to pigs fed a restricted level of complete feed did improve final body weight, but the extra cost of feeding morning glory offset this advantage resulting in similar profitability on an income over feed cost basis.

Complete Feed, Feed Restriction, Growing Pig, Growth Performance, Morning Glory

Sreng, S. , Keo, S. , DeRouchey, J. , Tokach, M. , Hok, L. and Vipham, J. (2020) Effect of Complete Feed Feeding Level and Morning Glory on Growing Pig Performance. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 10, 493-501. doi: 10.4236/ojas.2020.103030.