Resumen

MICHELANGELI, Coromoto; PEREZ, Gerardo; MENDEZ, Adriana  y  SIVOLI, Liliam. Effect of toasting Canavalia ensiformis seeds on productive performance of growing pigs. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2004, vol.22, n.1, pp.87-100. ISSN 0798-7269.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding growing pigs diets with 20% Jack Beans (Canavalia ensiformis L.) toasted under various conditions of temperature and time. Ninety six pigs (16kg average BW) were employed in both trials. In Experiment 1, three diets were tested: a Control diet (C); C+20% Jack Beans (JB) toasted at 177ºC/25min; and C+ 20% JB toasted at 187ºC/15min. Experiment 2 evaluated the same C diet; C+20% JB (184ºC/20min); C+20%JB (194º/18min), and C+20%JB (198ºC/14.5min).Forty eight pigs (24 castrated males and 24 females) were used in each trial. The experimental period lasted 7 days. Raw and toasted JB were analyzed for canavanine, haemagglutinin activity (HA), reactive lysine , proximal composition and cell wall components. Data indicated that HA was completely abolished by toasting whereas canavanine content was reduced by 45.2% following toasting at 177ºC/25min and up to 95% at 194º/18min. Reactive lysine was also reduced. Toasting marked increased crude fiber content and NDF/FDA fractions. Pig performance varied depending upon the severity of the toasting conditions but only the diet with 20% JB toasted at 194º/18min showed no significant differences (P<0,05) in feed intake and gain weight as compared with the C diet. In summary, this short term study indicates the potential of the toasting procedure as a means to improve the nutritive value of JB for pig diets.

Palabras clave : Jack beans; Canavalia ensiformis; toasting; antinutritional factors; performance; growing pigs.