Influence of Guar Meal from Pig Compound Feed on Productive Performance, Nitrogen Metabolism, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Gabriel Mihaila, Mihaela Habeanu (), Nicoleta Lefter, Anca Gheorghe, Mihaela Dumitru, Iuliana Marin, Livia Vidu, Carmen Georgeta Nicolae, Dana Popa and Monica Marin ()
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Gabriel Mihaila: Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd., District 1, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Mihaela Habeanu: Research Station for Sericulture Baneasa, 013685 Bucharest, Romania
Nicoleta Lefter: Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology Department, National Research-Development Institute for Biology and Animal Nutrition, Calea Bucuresti No. 1, 077015 Balotesti, Romania
Anca Gheorghe: Research Station for Sericulture Baneasa, 013685 Bucharest, Romania
Mihaela Dumitru: Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology Department, National Research-Development Institute for Biology and Animal Nutrition, Calea Bucuresti No. 1, 077015 Balotesti, Romania
Iuliana Marin: Faculty of Engineering in Foreign Languages, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Livia Vidu: Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd., District 1, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Carmen Georgeta Nicolae: Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd., District 1, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Dana Popa: Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd., District 1, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Monica Marin: Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd., District 1, 011464 Bucharest, Romania

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Guar ( Cyamopsis tetragonoloba ) is an annual legume tolerant to drought. Guar meal (GM) is a protein- and carbohydrate-rich co-product generated after the mechanical separation of the endosperm from the germ and hull of guar seed. GM has received considerable interest in animal feed as an alternative to soybean meal (SM). In this study, we aimed to assess the nitrogen (N) balance indicators, performance, carcass traits, and main greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from enteric fermentation (E-CH 4 ) and manure (M-CH 4 and N 2 O). Two tests were performed: (i) a biological trial on 45 pigs (15 animals/group) and (ii) a digestibility test in metabolism cages (N = 15, 5 replicates/group). Three different diets were given to the pigs: one diet was based on 0% GM (SM diet); in the second, GM-50%, GM replaced 50% of the SM; and the third was GM-100%, in which GM fully replaced the SM. The GM and SM diets were analyzed for their proximate composition. A model based on prediction equations was used to estimate the GHGs. GM up to 10% in the diets of finishing pigs did not significantly impact growth performance or carcass traits, although a slight increase in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was observed. GM up to 10% improved N digestibility ( p < 0.0001), net protein utilization ( p < 0.0001), the biological value of protein, coefficients of metabolizability, and the coefficient of the total tract’s apparent digestibility. Irrespective of its dietary proportion, GM decreased total nitrogen output (TNO, p = 0.11). A highly significant impact was noted for N 2 O and E-CH 4 (for DM, p < 0.0001), as well as a significant impact for E-CH 4 , expressed as g CO 2 Eq ( p = 0.007), and g CO 2 Eq. LU (livestock unit, p = 0.005), also reported as ADG ( p = 0.024). Manure, M-CH 4 , was not significantly influenced. In conclusion, GM can replace up to 100% SM and is thus a valuable byproduct that does not alter animal performance and can positively impact N 2 O and E-CH 4 .

Keywords: greenhouse gas emissions; guar meal; nitrogen; performance; pigs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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