Effects of the green tea powder supplementation on the growth performance and meat quality of Native black pigs in Thai Nguyen
This study was randomly assigned for 36 native black pigs divided into 4 groups, control group with the normal diet and 3 treatment groups with the diet supplemented with 1%, 3%, and 5% green tea powder, respectively. The experimental period was 6 months/batch. The results showed that the growth performance and feed conversion ratio of pigs when the diet supplemented with and without green tea powder, had no significantly difference (p>0,05). However, compared with the control group, the dietary adding 3% and 5% green tea powder decreased the fat thickness (p<0,001), total fat ratio (p<0,001), and increased total mucsle ratio (p<0,001). In addition, the dietary 3% and 5% green tea powder increased the muscle pH and the redness (a*) (p<0,05). These results indicated that the dietary green tea powder does not affect the growth performance or feed conversion ratio of native black pigs, but might improve their carcass characteristics and meat quality.
