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Nutritional value of macauba pulp presscake (Acrocomia aculeata) for growing pigs
The aim of this study was to determine the apparent digestibility coefficients of the dry matter (DCDM), crude protein (DCCP) and fiber (DCFB). Also, we aimed at determining the apparent digestible (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in macauba pulp presscake (Acrocomia aculeata) for pig feeding. The apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), fiber (NDF), DE and ME of treatments was also assessed for growing pigs. The study was conducted using a randomized block design with three treatments distributed in two blocks of four replications/block. Twenty-four commercial barrows with an initial weight of 28+0.13 kg were used with an adaptation period of 10d followed by a 5d total collection of feces and urine. The diets were formulated by replacing the reference diet (corn and soybean meal) with 0, 10 or 20% macauba pulp presscake. The treatments were: T1= Reference diet (RD), T2 = 90% RD+10% macauba pulp presscake and T3 = 80% RD+20% macauba pulp presscake. The DCDM, DCCP, and DCFB for a 20% dietary inclusion level of macauba presscake were 16.5%, −2.25%, and 30.80%, respectively, which were not significantly different from the values observed with a 10% dietary inclusion level. The DE value for macauba pulp presscake in T2 (10%) was 2888.3 and T3 (20%) was 2900.6 kcal/kg. The ME for the same treatments was 2690.0 and 2680.5 kcal/kg, respectively. Diet DM digestibility values were 79.1% in T2 and 72.0% T3, while CP digestibility in T2 and T3 were 77.9% and 71.2%, respectively. Diet NDF digestibility for T2 was 64.3% and T3 was 55.7%. Significant difference (P<0.05) for diet nitrogen balance (NB) was found only in fecal nitrogen (FN), showing that diet fiber increased the excretion of endogenous nitrogen. The inclusion level of macauba pulp presscake in the diet had an effect on the digestibility of DM, CP, and NDF, where the apparent digestibility coefficient decreased with the increase of macauba pulp inclusion, without influencing the DE, ME and NB values. This diet is considered to have a low nutritional value and its use is not recommended for growing pigs with 28 to 40 kg of body weight. The possible usage as alternative foods to feed pigs will depend on the understanding of their possibilities and limitations as well as reduction of production costs. Inclusion rates of this ingredient in pork diet must be considered, especially the fiber content values.
Keywords: alternative feed, biodiesel, by-products