Effects of increasing dietary fiber on digestibility, performance and carcass characteristics: I. growing and finishing gilts

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of fibrous ration on parameters of nutrient digestibility, animal performance and carcass characteristics, using 24 crossbred gilts during growing and finishing phases in a completely randomized design experiment. The animals were fed ad libitum with isonutrients rations containing increments of 0 or 8% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), obtained through the inclusion of 0 or 10% coast cross grass hay (Cynodon dactylon). In the growing phase, treatments were different for dry matter, energy, crude protein and acid detergent fiber digestibilities with worsening in the values for ration with 8% NDF In the finishing phase, differences were detected on digestibility of dry matter, energy, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber with reduction on the rate for the ration with 8% of NDF. The inclusion of 8% NDF had no effect upon final body weight, weight gain, feed conversion, yield of hot and chilled carcass, yield of lean meat and loin eye area. The results pointed out that continuous feeding, of relatively low content of NDF altered the digestibility of dietary components of the meal. However, as animal performance and carcass characteristics were not compromised, it can be foreseen that moderate quantities of fibrous feedstuff can actually be used for feeding of gilts during the growing and finishing phases.