Nutritional value of ensiled lucerne and red clover leaves in growing pigs
Valeur nutritionnelle de l’ensilage de luzerne et de trèfle violet chez le porc en croissance
Résumé
Silages from the leaf fractions of lucerne and red clover may be a valuable energy source for swine. The aim of this study was to measure energy and protein values of ensiled lucerne (E_LU) and red clover leaves (E_TV). In the first experiment, the total tract digestibility coefficient (TTD) of energy was measured for 18 pigs (68 kg BW) randomly allotted to three dietary treatments: 0%, or 22.3% of E-LU or E_TV incorporated in a wheat-soybean meal diet. After a 10-d adaptation period, faeces and urine were collected for 7 consecutive days. In the second experiment, the apparent and standardized ileal digestibility coefficient of amino acids (AA) of three diets (0%, or 15% of E_LU or E_RC incorporated in a casein-corn starch diet) were measured for five pigs (35 kg BW) fitted with ileo-rectal anastomosis. Within each period, all faeces were collected twice daily for 3 days after a 4-d adaptation period. Metabolizable energy was slightly higher in E_LU than in E_TV (14.1 vs 13.6 MJ/kg DM). As proteolysis occurs during ensiling, the proportion of non-protein nitrogen was high especially in E_LU and lower in E_TV. These results explained the higher digestible AA content in E_RC than in E_LU.