Growth performance and blood profiles response of weaned piglets fed diets containing different rice distiller’s by-product levels

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of incorporation of different dietary rice distiller’s by-product (RDP) levels on growth performance and blood profiles in weaned pigs. Forty-eight weaned castrated male crossbred pigs, initial body weight (IBW) 7.5±0.97 kg, and age about 4 weeks, were used. They were randomly allocated into 3 diet-groups of 4 blocks (4 pigs per block) according to similar IBW and sow origin by treatment. The piglets were offered for a total of 35-d experiment, either a control diet, or diets containing 15 or 30% RDP on a DM basis. Animal performance was determined on d0, d14 and d35. On d14 and d35, eight piglets per treatment (2 per block) were randomly selected for hemato-biochemical analysis. Increasing inclusion levels of RDP tended to linearly increase (P ≤ 0.07) average daily gain on d14 and d35, and to decrease (P = 0.08) feed conversion ratio on d35. Although the blood parameters studied were within normal ranges as reported by literature, serum globulin concentration decreased on d14 (P = 0.003) and red blood cell count tended to decrease (P = 0.06) on d35, parallel to increase RDP levels. In conclusion, RDP could to be a valuable ingredient for weaned piglet.