Silva et al., 2002. Rev. Bras. Zootec., 31 (2) Suppl.: 982-990

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the use of sunflower meal (SM) for pig feeding during the growing and finishing phases. In experiment I, eight barrows (30.41 kg liveweight) were allocated to individual metabolic cages to evaluate the digestibility of sunflower meal. In experiment II, a total of 48 pigs (24 barrows and 24 females), Large White * Landrace cross, were allotted to four treatments: diet without SM, diet with 7% SM, diet with 14% SM and diet with 21% SM. The animals were evaluated from 25.82 to 92.33 kg liveweight. Daily liveweight gain (DWG), daily feed intake (DFI) and feed:gain ratio (FGR) were evaluated during four periods (growing I, growing II, finishing and total period). All animals were slaughtered and subjected to electronic carcass evaluation at the end of the experiment. Backfat depth (BP), muscle depth (MD), carcass weight (CW), lean meat percentage (LM), kilogram of lean meat (KLM) and carcass yield (CY) were evaluated. Digestible and metabolizable energy values of SM were 2171 and 2036 kcal/kg, respectively. The SM levels had no regression effects on performance characteristics. There were significant differences for sex factor. Barrows displayed better DWG and DFI during growing phase II and the total period. There were no regression effects on carcass characteristics for the levels of SM, but BD and CW characteristics were significantly greater for barrows than females. The cost of rations was similar among treatments. In was concluded that rations for growing and finishing pigs containing up to 21% SM does not affect performance and carcass characteristics.