Effects of Feeding Mochidawara and Koshihikari Rice on Growth Performance, Blood Parameters, DM and CP Digestibility and Liver Lysine-Ketoglutarate Reductase Activity in Weanling Piglets

We investigated the effects of feeding Mochidawara and Koshihikari rice on growth performance, plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) and free amino acids concentrations, DM and CP digestibility, and liver lysine-ketoglutarate reductase (LKR) activity in weanling piglets. Twelve weanling piglets with an average initial weight of 7.2 kg were divided into three groups. First group was fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet, second group was fed a rice (Mochidawara, sticky rice)-based diet, and third group was fed a rice (Koshihikari, japonica)-based diet. These diets contain around 50% of corn or rice. A three-week growth trial was conducted. Average daily gain and feed intake in Mochidawara group was significantly higher than that in corn group, and average daily gain in Koshihikari group tended to be higher compared to corn group. Feed efficiency was similar among three groups. DM digestibility in Mochidawara and Koshihikari groups were higher than that in corn group. PUN concentration in Koshihikari group was significantly lower than in corn group. However, PUN concentration in Mochidawara group was similar to that in corn group. Liver LKR activities in Mochidawara and Koshihikari group were significantly lower than in corn group. Plasma valine and histidine concentrations in Mochidawara and Koshihikari groups were significantly higher than those in corn group, and isoleucine in two rice groups tended to be higher compared to corn group. In conclusion, these results show that rice feeding, especially Mochidawara feeding, improves the growth performance and affect the protein (lysine) metabolism in weanling piglets.