Ocampo et al., 1990. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 2 (1)
Utilización de la cachaza de palma africana como fuente de energía en el levante, desarrollo y ceba de cerdos
The following experimental work was carried out during the first semester of 1988 in a farm named "El Paso de las Aguilas" located on the highway Villavicencio-Restrepo, Meta. The climatic characteristics of this region are: average temperature: 24°C, pluviometric precipitation 3,500 mm per year, relative humidity 95%
The experimental period depended on the number of days required to obtain the optimum weight (90 kg) for commercializing the pigs. The average initial weight was 20 kg per pig.
The main purpose of the present study was to evaluate the nutritive value of the African Palm's Cachaza, in order to consider its possible use as an energy source for meat production.
The experimental treatments were arranged in order to gradually substitute the energy from sorghum by Palm's Cachaza according to the following treatments:
T0: 100% of the energy from the traditional energy source (sorghum)
T25: 25% of the traditional energy was replaced by "Cachaza"
T50: 50% of the traditional energy was replaced by "Cachaza"
T75: 75% of the traditional energy was replaced by "Cachaza"
T100: 100% of the traditional energy was replaced by "Cachaza"
Liveweights were recorded every 14 days. The following information was also recorded: Initial and final weights; Number of days spent in each phase; Daily weight increase; Daily food consumption; Feed efficiency. Diets for growing-fattening pigs were formulated in which the cereal component (sorghum grain) was substituted on an iso-caloric basis by the oil byproduct at rates of 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100%. Protein was the same for all diets, according to NRC standards, and consisted of soybean meal fortified with minerals and vitamins.
Rate of liveweight gain increased linearly with increasing substitution of cereal grain: 525, 592, 632, 629, and 639 g/day, respectively for increasing proportions of the oil palm residue; feed conversion rates were 4.1, 3.5, 3.4, 3.7, and 4.4. The weight increase in the overall period shows that the diets with 100% cachaza is the best alternative for growing-finishing pigs.