Effect of feeding diets containing collagen casing to fattening pigs from the growing stage on growth rate, meat production, and serum composition.

Abstract

We determined the effects of including collagen casing (5% or 10%, added to a control diet) in the diet of pigs from the growing stage on their growth rate, meat production, and serum composition. The daily weight gain during the finishing stage and over the whole period of the study were significantly lower in the 10% group than in the control group (P<0.05). Feed intake (kg d⁻¹ head⁻¹) was significantly lower in the 10% group than in the control group during each period (P<0.05). In the 10% group, feed intake was lower during the finishing stage (P<0.1) and significantly lower overall (P<0.05) than in the 5% group. The albumin/globulin ratio and the serum concentrations of γ-globulin and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol were affected by feeding 10% casing. The total cholesterol concentration was significantly lower in the collagen casing-fed groups than in the control group. The lower feed intake and weight gain of the 10% group suggests that the addition of 5% collagen casing to the diet of fattening pigs is more appropriate than the addition of 10% collagen casing.