Oilseeds for weaned piglets : rapeseed, sunflower seeds and extruded full fat soybeans

Four isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets were compared in three successive trials. Each trial used 360 weaned piglets.Each diet had the same oil content (3 %) provided by : 3 % rapeseed oil, 7 % sunflower seeds, 7 % rapeseed and 15 % extruded soybeans.In the first trial, the growth performance obtained with the "rapeseed" treatment was significantly lower than the others, chiefly due to the poor grinding of the rapeseed.In the second trial, the "oil" and "extruded soybean" diets gave similar results, but the other two diets produced lower growth performance (-2 and -5 %). With "rapeseed" (correctly ground this time), the difference was reduced by half, compared with the first trial. The lower growth performance compared to the soybean diet may be explained by the fact that rapeseed and sunflower seeds had lower fat levels than the values given in feed tables.In the third trial, no significant differences between the four diets were observed. This was probably due to better grinding of the rapeseed and the higher nutritional quality of the oil seeds used.Thus, we can say that the supply of fat - or energy - in the diets of weaned piglets, can be provided by any of the feedstuffs tested in the present experiments. It is necessary however to ensure that certain conditions are respected : high nutritional value, good conservation and adequate grinding, moderate levels of inclusion in diets and a correct diet amino acid balance. Under these conditions, the choice between these feedstuffs will depend on the cost per unit energy and ease of supply.