Inclusion of Rice Bran in Diets for Post-weaning Piglets: Effect on the Productive Behavior and Carcass Traits

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Abstract
This study assessed the effect of bran rice inclusion in the diet on the productive behavior and carcass characteristics of Pampa Rocha piglets. Sixteen animals were used from weaning up to 42 days and 77 days of age, which were housed in boxes in a deep bed system of wheat straw. A randomized complete block design with two treatments and four replications was used. Treatments consisted of diets with different lipid content (T0 = 0 % rice bran; T15 = 15 % rice bran). Productive behavior was evaluated through analysis of variance and comparison of means for daily food consumption (DC), daily weight gain (DG) and conversion efficiency (CE). Weight and backfat thickness were the evaluated carcass traits, and they were analyzed through a comparison of means per treatment. The DG and CE showed differences during week 5, although they showed no differences in the experimental period average. For DC, no differences were recorded during the weeks or the average of the experimental period. Carcass traits did not differ statistically between treatments. Based on the results, rice bran could be considered as an alternative in the preparation of ration for piglets.