SUBSTITUTION OF DRY FEED BY SACCHARINA IN SWILL DIETS FOR GROWING FATTENING PIGS

One hundred eight hybrid (Yorkshire x Landrace x Duroc) castrated male and female pigs were used in a random block design with 3 treatments and 4 replicates and 9 animals/pen for studying the partial or total substitution (0, 50 and 100%) of the dry feed by Saccharina prepared with sugar cane in swill diets for growing-fattening pigs. There were no significant differences for final weight (kg), daily liveweight gain (g) and conversion (kg/kg) between the control treatment and the 50% substitution, however, there were differences between these and the total substitution (100%) the values being: 91.5, 525 and 4.72, 90.2, 514 and 5.03 and 59,3, 255 and 8.86, respectively. The substitution of 50% of the feed by Saccharina in swill diets for growing-fattening pigs is considered feasible.