PRODUCTION OF FECES FROM PIGS IN THE FINISHING PHASE FED WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CITRUS PULP WITH OR WITHOUT ENZYME COMPLEX (Atena Editora)

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the feces production of piglets in the finishing phase fed diets with different levels of citrus pulp (PC) inclusion (0, 5, 10 and 15%) with or without the addition of an enzyme complex. A randomized block design was used, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, with 8 treatments and nine replications, with treatments being 4 levels of citrus pulp x 2 diets with or without an enzyme complex. 72 pigs, castrated males, of the Topigs lineage, with an initial age of 126 days and weight of 82.75 ± 10.69 kg, were used, with each experimental unit consisting of one animal. The piglets were housed in individual masonry pens, measuring 2.55 m2 each, equipped with semi-automatic feeders and level drinking fountains, of the communicating vessel type. The study was divided into two experiments, in the first using the partial feces collection method, using insoluble acid ash as an indicator. The second method assessed total feces production. At the end of the experiment, it was found that the addition of the enzyme complex decreased the production of feces in relation to the animals in the treatment with 5% inclusion of PC without the enzyme complex in the dry matter, although it increased the production of feces in relation to the animals in the treatment with 15% PC inclusion without enzyme complex in the natural matter. The level of inclusion of citrus pulp determined the amount of feces produced by finishing pigs, with an increase being observed at levels of 5 and 15% inclusion. When using the enzyme complex, there was an interaction with the levels of citrus pulp that influenced the production of feces, mainly at the 5% level.