Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXIII, Issue 1
Written by Nicoleta Aurelia LEFTER, Mihaela HĂBEANU, Anca GHEORGHE, Lavinia IDRICEANU, Mirela CIREBEA
A 21 days trial was conducted to evaluate the performance and plasma biochemical markers on 40 pigs (8.14 ± 1.08 kg of average body weight and 30 ± 3 days of age) when 25% of triticale was replaced with millet in weaned diets. The group C (n = 20) received a conventional diet based on corn-triticale-soybean meal and in the M group (n = 20), 25% millet cv. ʻMariusʼ replaced triticale (2 replicates per group). At 7 days post-weaning, the performances and plasma profiles (lipid, protein, mineral, enzyme) were evaluated. The blood samples collected from the piglets jugular vein (n = 10) were determined by a chemistry analyser Spotchem EZ SP-4430, Arkray, Japan. The performances of piglets fed either M or C diet were comparable (P>0.05). No effect (P>0.05) of dietary treatment on plasma metabolites was observed. However, the inorganic phosphorus (IP) decreased (-15%; P0.04) in the M vs. C diet. The present study revealed that the replacement of 25% millet to the piglet’s diet, even in the most critical period of their lives, maintains the performances and blood plasma parameters within the normal reference ranges, beneficial to the health status.
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