The Value of Oats in the Nutrition of Swine

Abstract

Oats have never been used widely in this country for feeding to pigs. Their relative unpopularity for this purpose is attributable to their content of fibre, which, on account of the fibrous husk surrounding the kernel, is high compared with that of the other cereals. This prejudice is, in the main, perfectly logical, since the pig's digestive system is not designed to deal with foods of a fibrous nature. The most successful rations for growing and fattening pigs contain no more than 4–5 per cent. of fibre, this amount being necessary to facilitate the passage of the food residues along the intestinal tract. Higher amounts than this, however, are known to lead to a reduction of the efficiency of the ration. In a study of the influence of fibre on the utilisation of pig rations, Robison(1) noted a continuous decline in growth rate as the percentage of fibre in the ration was increased up to 9 per cent., the amount of food required for 1 lb. of live-weight gain displaying meanwhile a corresponding increase.