Effects of hydrolysate protein powder from Tra catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) by-product in the diets on the growth and meat quality of pigs farmed at the Mekong Delta

Abstract

A feeding trial with growing-finishing pigs was carried out to evaluate the effects of replacing marine fish meal (FM) by hydrolysate protein powder (BTP) from Tra catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) by-product on the growth and meat quality. Twenty four crossbred castrated male pigs (Yorkshire x Landrace) with an initial average body weight of 22.8±1.5 kg were allocated into 4 individual experimental formulas in a completely randomized design with six replications. Pigs were fed a control diet (BTP0) with FM as sole protein supplement, and experimental diets where 100% (BTP100), 75% (BTP75) and 50% (BTP50) of the crude protein (CP) from FM were replaced by the CP from BTP. The results showed no significant difference in average daily feed intake (ADFI), but there was a slight increase in daily weight gain (ADG) of pigs fed BTP100 (820 g/day) compared with BTP0 (750 g/day) during finishing phase. Therefore, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved in BTP100 (2.24 and 3.13 kg feed/kg gain) compared with BTP0 (2.30 and 3.23 kg feed/kg gain) in growing and finishing phases, respectively. Meat yield and dressing percentage were not affected by the experimental diets. However, back fat thickness increased with higher level of BTP replacement in the diets. And polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA, DPA, DHA), ether extract contents and meat colour values a*(Redness) in Longissimus dorsi muscles also increased with BTP replacement level. In conclusion, replacing fish meal by BTP from Tra catfish by-product improved feed conversion ratio, but resulted in an increase in back fat thickness and EE content of Longissimus dorsi muscles.