Abstract:
A study was carried out to assess the influence of potassium diformate on
growth performance, digestibility of nutrients and carcass quality in Large White
Yorkshire pigs. Thirty weaned male piglings with an average live weight of 13.0
kg were divided into three equal groups as uniform as possible with regard to age
and body weight. Pigs were maintained on three experimental diets viz., T j -
control standard grower (18 per cent crude protein and 3150 kcal/kg ME) and
finisher ration (15.5 per cent crude protein and 3100 kcal/kg ME), T2 - control
diet supplemented with 0.75 per cent potassium diformate and T3 - control diet
supplemented with 1.5 per cent potassium diformate.
The average daily gain of 465,494 and 519 g were recorded for the groups
Tj , T2 and T3, respectively. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between
the supplemented group and the group fed control diet. However, there was a
trend for a higher growth rate of 6.2 per cent and 11.7 per cent, reported for T2
and T 3 over those fed control diet. The average cumulative feed conversion
efficiency were 3.97, 3.74 and 3.55 for the groups Tj, T2 and T3, respectively.
Addition of potassium diformate at 0.75 and 1.5 per cent level in the diet of
growing-finishing pigs had a higher (Pthose fed control diet. Ther,e was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the
supplemented groups. However, there was a trend for a higher feed efficiency for
those fed 1.5 per cent potassium diformate supplemented diet. The digestibility
coefficients for dry matter, ether extract, crude protein and nitrogen free extract
were significantly higher (Ppotassium diformate at both the levels (0.75 and 1.5 per cent). There was no
significant difference between the supplemented groups. Dressing percentage,
carcass length, back fat thickness, loin eye area and others were not significantly
influenced (P>0.05) by the inclusion of potassium diformate at different levels.
The costs of feed per kg live weight gain of pigs were Rs.32.82, 32.05 and 31.50,
respectively for T1, T2 and T3. The above results indicate that potassium
diformate can be economically incorporated at l.5 per cent level in the diet of
Large White Yorkshire pigs.
