Valeur nutritionnelle de l’ensilage de luzerne et de trèfle violet chez le porc en croissance

Summary

Silages from the leaf fractions of lucerne and red clover may be a valuable energy source for swine. The aim of this study was to measure energy and protein values of ensiled lucerne (E_LU) and red clover leaves (E_TV). In the first experiment, the total tract digestibility coefficient (TTD) of energy was measured for 18 pigs (68 kg BW) randomly allotted to three dietary treatments: 0%, or 22.3% of E-LU or E_TV incorporated in a wheat-soybean meal diet. After a 10-d adaptation period, faeces and urine were collected for 7 consecutive days. In the second experiment, the apparent and standardized ileal digestibility coefficient of amino acids (AA) of three diets (0%, or 15% of E_LU or E_RC incorporated in a casein-corn starch diet) were measured for five pigs (35 kg BW) fitted with ileo-rectal anastomosis. Within each period, all faeces were collected twice daily for 3 days after a 4-d adaptation period. Metabolizable energy was slightly higher in E_LU than in E_TV (14.1 vs 13.6 MJ/kg DM). As proteolysis occurs during ensiling, the proportion of non-protein nitrogen was high especially in E_LU and lower in E_TV. These results explained the higher digestible AA content in E_RC than in E_LU.