Application of vermighumus in feeding pigs

Abstract

The article analyzes a new method of fattening young pigs by introducing a biologically active additive into the diet - vermighumus, which is a product of pig manure processing by California worms.

In addition to the standard diet, the youngsters of the research groups consumed vermighumus in a dose of 130, 180, 230 g per head per day. The young of the control group consumed standard compound feed. It was established that the application of vermighumus into the diet of young pigs improved their fattening indicators. In particular, the youngsters of the second and third experimental groups exceeded the control analogues in terms of live weight at the end of fattening by 3.73 and 5.53%, respectively. Youngsters of the second and third experimental groups also had higher growth energy by 4.80 and 7.40%, respectively, and better feed payment (by 0.43 and 071 kg).

In terms of half-carcass length, young animals of the experimental group 3 did not significantly exceed the counterparts of the control group. In the 2nd and 3rd experimental groups, the fat thickness at the level of the 6th-7th thoracic vertebra was smaller (by 5.85-7.50%). They prevailed over the control analogues in the area of the "muscle eye" (by 2.83-5.45%). The weight of the rear third half of the carcass and the content of meat in the carcass was the highest in young animals of the 3 experimental group (by 7.85% and 4.91%, respectively), and the fat content in it was lower than in the control group (by 14.52%). The smallest fat thickness at the level of the 6-7 thoracic vertebra, as well as the content of fat in the carcass, was in young animals of the third experimental group. Among the indicators of the physical and chemical properties of the muscle tissue of young pigs of the experimental groups, no statistically significant differences were found. However, there is a certain trend towards a decrease in such indicators as the level of acidity, tenderness and losses during cooking, and an increase in the moisture-holding capacity and intensity of coloring in the young of the control group. The tasting evaluation revealed minor differences among the experimental animals. The relative number of lymphocytes (% of the total number of leukocytes) in pigs treated with vermighumus was higher (by 4.44-6.66% Р<0.05) than in counterparts fed with conventional compound feed, which indicates an improvement in resistance animalsEnrichment of the ration of young pigs with vermihumus as a biologically active additive contributed to the improvement of fattening and meat qualities and ensures obtaining additional basic products in the amount of UAH 320.38-354.34 per head.