Determination of the appropriate protein level in the diet of commercial Meo pigs
The experiment was conducted on 90 Meo piglets at weaning, at 50 days of age, arranged in a completely randomized design with one factor at three protein levels. The experiment was divided into three groups, each corresponding to one treatment with 30 piglets, replicated three times. The study was carried out from March to September 2024 at Nghe An Agriculture Investment and Development Joint Stock Company. Dietary protein levels during the post-weaning to 75-day-old stage were 14, 15 and 16%, while levels during the 75-day-old to 8-month-old stage were 13, 14 and 15%, respectively. Results showed that the group fed 15% protein from post-weaning to 75 days and 14% protein from 75 days to 8 months achieved higher body weight, average daily gain, and growth rate compared with the other groups. Feed conversion ratio per kilogram of weight gain was reasonable (4.01kg), and economic efficiency was the highest, with a net profit of 48,555,745 VND per group. In conclusion, a dietary protein level of 15% (post-weaning to 75 days) and 14% (75 days to 8 months) is the most suitable for Meo pigs, ensuring both technical performance and economic efficiency.
