Effects of feeding cattle manure on growth performance and carcass characteristics of large white pigs.

Thirty-six weaner Large White piglets were randomly assigned to 3 replicates of 3 treatments to determine the effects of feeding 0, 10 or 20% of cattle manure in partial replacement of ground maize in the diet. The trial lasted 15 weeks. Feed efficiency was not significantly affected. However, pigs fed on the control diet consumed significantly more feed than pigs on the experimental diets containing cattle manure, and although their higher daily weight gain was not statistically significant, at the end of the trial they were significantly heavier (P < 0.05) than those fed the diet containing 20% cattle manure. Carcasses from pigs fed on the diets containing cattle manure were leaner than pigs fed on the control diet.