Soren et al., 2004. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci., 17 (5): 688-692

54 crossbred gilts, 25-week-old, (26.380.85 kg body weight) were randomly divided into three groups, having six replicates of three animals each and were assigned to one of the three dietary treatments containing corn, wheat bran and rice bran (RB) at 35, 47 and 0% in R1; 17.5, 23.5 and 41% in R2 and 0, 0 and 82% in R3. Soyabean meal and fishmeal were used as sources of protein at 10 and 6%, respectively, in all the rations. Average daily CP, DCP, DE and ME intake per kg W0.75 and body weight gains were lowest (P<0.01) in gilts fed 82% RB (R3) followed by R2 and R1. Utilization of protein with respect to nitrogen balance and DCP conversion efficiency did not differ (P>0.05) between the treatment groups. All the gilts had positive nitrogen balance. However, the excretion of dietary nitrogen and energy through faeces were higher (P<0.01) in gilts fed RB. However, the DE and ME conversion efficiency were higher (P<0.01) in gilts fed RB. It is concluded that the digestibility of energy and protein in diets containing rice bran decrease with the increase in fat and fibre, but metabolizable energy and protein are better in pigs fed RB in the diet.