Abstract

LANFERDINI, E. et al. Digestibility of diets and metabolism of pigs fed with diets containing citric extracts. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2013, vol.62, n.238, pp.307-310. ISSN 1885-4494.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922013000200019.

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the digestibility of diets, and metabolism of finishing pigs fed diets containing citric extracts. Twelve barrows with average initial weight of 54 kilograms were used. A completely randomized experimental design was used, with two treatments (control diet and control diet + 750mg.kg^-1 of a compound of citric extracts, containing ascorbic acid and bioflavonoids) with six replications, and the animal as an experimental unit. The citric extracts did not alter (p>0.05) nitrogen balance, but increased (p<0.05) in 3.56 % the retained energy and in 1.94 % the digestible energy. Pigs fed diets containing citrus extracts had decreased (p<0.05) from 12.9 % in the level of blood cholesterol. The addition of citric extracts in diets for pigs improves the retention of energy, the use of digestible energy and reduces the plasma cholesterol levels.

Keywords : Ascorbic acid; Bioflavonoids; Cholesterol; Digestion; Nutrition; Swine production.

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