Energy value of french cereals for pigs : results of a three years inquiry

Abstract

Ninety digestive balance (six experiments) were carried out on Large White castrated male pigs (five animals per diet) to estimate the energy content (DE, ME) of French cereals during three successive years. Total excreta were collected for ten consecutive days. The diets were based exclusively on cereals (96 %). Each year, six representative samples of the national production were tested : maize « North of France », maize « South of France », soft wheat, spring barley, winter two-row and six-row barley. Results obtained show small variations between years in DE content within different classes of cereals and a good repeatability of their relative energy value : maize (111), wheat (108), spring barley (100), winter two-row barley (100), winter six-row barley (98). The mean DE content of the six samples of maize (3940 kcal - 16.5 MJ/kg DM) and the three samples of wheat (3830 kcal - 16.0 MJ/kg DM) were similar to the standard values (INRA 1984). The DE content of the nine samples of barley are in agreement (mean deviation : 1 %) with the DE calculated from crude fibre content by using the prediction equation previously established : DE (MJ/kg DM) = 17.04 - 0.046 CF (g/kg DM).