WATER ADDITION TO RATIONS FOR PIGS IN FINISHING PHASE

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of water addition to mash rations on nutrients and energy digestibility, water intake, excrement quality and carcass traits in pigs at the finishing phase, twelve  commercial hybrid barrows with an initial weight of 64.0 ± 4.8 kg were used for the digestibility trial, and distributed into randomized blocks, based on the animals´ weight. Eighteen barrows and eighteen hybrid females, with an initial weight of 60.0 ± 3.6 kg, were used for the performance test, and distributed into a completely randomized design. Treatment one consisted of a dry diet formulated to meet the animals´ requirement. Treatments two and three consisted of the same diet with the addition of the same proportion of water and the double of water, respectively, the proportional unit used was kg. There was no statistical difference among treatments for the coefficients of apparent dry matter digestibility, gross energy, ether extract, calcium and phosphorus, and for the variables of performance, moisture, fecal nitrogen and phosphorus and carcass characteristics. There was a reduction of 27.97% of fresh water intake for animals receiving liquid diet. The addition of water to the diet of pigs at finishing phase does not influence apparent nutrient digestibility, or animal performance when they are fed twice a day. Moreover, it does not influence carcass composition, but decreases fresh water intake, lessening the waste when the animals go to the drinker, and it reduces phosphorus excretion, reflecting positively on the volume and polluting power of the excrements.

KEYWORDS: Liquid feeding; performance; pig production; waste.