Utilization of triticale by weaned piglets and growing-finishing pigs

A total of 396 purebred Large White piglets were weaned at 27 days. During 13 days they received only a 1st age diet and thereafter the experimental diets for 28 days. Farm experimental diets were tested : wheat-soybean oil-meal and triticale-soybean oil-meal including 18 and 22 p. 100 crude protein. They were offered ad libitum in the form of dry meal. A very marked effect of the protein level, there were only few differences between the two cereals : the intake of triticale slightly exceeded that of wheat (+ 4.7 p. 100) and therefore led to a light improvement of the growth rates (+ 4.3 p. 100). On an average, the feed conversion ratios were identical for the two cereals (wheat : 1.85 triticale : 1.83).