ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of qualitative dietary restriction diet on carcass characteristics, meat quality, fatty acid profile, and performance of finishing pigs fed diets containing cashew bagasse bran. Forty pigs (20 females and 20 males) with initial weight of 60.00±5.24 kg of body weight (BW) were used. The diets were formulated with corn, soybean meal, cashew bagasse bran, vegetable oil, and mineral and vitamin mixture for finishing pigs. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with five treatments and four replicates, with two animals per experimental unit, one of each sex. Parameters related to performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and fatty acids profiles were used. The treatments used in the experiment did not affect feed intake and daily weight gain; however, in relation to feed conversion, a linear effect was observed with the increase of cashew bagasse bran levels in the diet. The same effects were also observed in carcass yield, backfat thickness, and fat area. The meat:fat ratio increased linearly with the increase of fiber in the diet. The level of 22.5% of cashew bagasse bran in finishing pig diets is recommended.
Key Words:
alternative feed; carcass yield; cashew bran; digestible fiber