Effects on Nutritive Value for Growing Pigs of Pelleting Diets Containing Low Glucosinolate Rapeseed Meals

Abstract

Many pigs are given their diets in cubed or pelleted form and the process of pelleting has been shown to increase nutritive value. The reasons for increases in nutritive value following pelleting of a diet are uncertain but reductions in crude fibre and improved apparent digestibility of gross energy and dry matter (D.M.) may be involved (Lawrence, 1971, 1976, 1979). As rapeseed meal (RSM) is higher in crude fibre and, in general, of lower digestible energy value than soya-bean meal (SBM), it was thought possible that the beneficial effect of pelleting could be greater in RSM than in SBM diets.