Evaluation of Dietary Hydrolyzed Barley on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Blood Characteristic, and Meat Quality in Finishing Pigs

A total of 144 [(Duroc × Yorkshire) × Landrace] pigs with an average initial BW of 61.8±1.04 kg were used in this 70-d growth experiment. Pigs were allotted to 4 treatments based on their initial BW using a randomized complete block design. Each treatment consisted of 9 replications (pen) with 4 pigs per pen (2 gilts and 2 barrows). Dietary treatments were- 1) V0, 0% hydrolyzed barley (HB) and 30% de-hulled barley (DB); 2) V1, 10% HB and 20% DB; 3) V2, 20% HB and 10% DB; and 4) V3, 30% HB and 0% DB. In this study, our analyzed data suggested that hydrolyzed barley increased the energy and CP concentration by 50.65% and 18%, respectively, compared with the de-hulled barley. In the feeding trail, Pigs fed the V2 and V3 treatment diet increased (P<0.05) the N digestibility compared with the V0 treatment at the end of 5 week. An increased (P<0.10) tendency was also observed on the energy and nitrogen digestibility at the end of 5 week and 10 week, respectively. Moreover, pigs fed the HB diet tend to increase (P<0.10) the average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI). The inclusion of V3 treatment decreased (P<0.05) the blood cholesterol compared with those contain DB. Dietary V3 treatment led to a higher (P<0.05) WHC than the V0 and V1 treatment. Pigs fed V2 and V3 treatment decreased (P<0.05) L* value compared with DB diet. In conclusion, the inclusion of hydrolyzed barley could improve the meat quality without any negative effect on the growth performance and nutrient digestibility, which provide a strong indication that hydrolyzed barley could be used as a good energy source for swine.