Effect of increased content of animal protein in feed mixtures based on extruded rice on rearing performance and blood parameters of piglets

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of three feed mixtures based on various feed components, including extruded rice, and differing in the source and level of animal protein on rearing performance and biochemical and haematological blood parameters of piglets in the peri-weaning period. The experiments covered 96 piglets, crosses of PIC hybrid sows with a P76 boar that were divided into three experimental groups. The piglets from group I received a prestarter diet based on extruded wheat and protein of both plant and animal origin, whilst those from groups II and III were fed prestarter diets containing: group II - extruded rice (protein as in group I), and group III - extruded rice with protein components of exclusively animal origin. The addition of extruded rice and the increased content of animal protein in feed mixture improved the rearing performance of piglets (higher body weight gains and more efficient feed conversion ratio). The feeding of piglets with the diets containing extruded rice and increased animal protein components (III group) was also observed to stimulate lipid metabolism, which resulted in reduced plasma levels of LDL-cholesterol and in increased percentage of HDL-cholesterol, which contributed to increased blood levels of urea compared to the other experimental groups.