Effects of replacing fish meal with ensiled catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) by-products on the performance and carcass quality of finishing pigs

Thirty castrated finishing male pigs were used to evaluate the effects of replacing fish meal (FM) with ensiled Tra catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus) by-products (ECM) on performance and carcass quality. Pigs were allocated to individual pens and fed a control diet (ECMO) with FM as sole protein supplement, and experimental diets where 100 (ECM 100), 75 (ECM75), 50 (ECM50) and 25% (ECM25) of the crude protein (CP) from FM was replaced by the CP from ECM. Feed intake was highest in ECM25 and lowest in ECM75 (P<0.05), and daily weight gain was higher in ECM100 than in the other treatments (P<0.01). Feed conversion ratio was improved (P<0.05) with higher inclusion of ECM in the diets. Carcass yield and dressing percentage were not affected (P>0.05) by treatment, but leaf fat and backfat thickness were higher and loin eye area lower in ECM 100 compared with ECM (P<0.01). Ether extract and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents and meat colour values in Longissimus dorsi muscle increased (P<0.01) with ECM replacement level. Feed costs were lower in ECM 100 and ECM75 compared with ECM25 and ECM0.