Abstract
A total of thirty-six gilts $(24.78{\pm}1.39kg)$ were employed for 38 days (Exp. 1), and twenty-four gilts $(46.50{\pm}1.90kg)$ for 43 days (Exp. 2) to determine growth performance and carcass characteristics in pigs fed dried food waste (DFW). Pigs were allocated by dietary treatments: 0%, 20% and 40% DFW. For nutrient digestibility, twelve female pigs $(50.20{\pm}0.52kg)$ were used in individual pens to collect feces. Food wastes were collected from restaurants and apartment complex areas and dried in a drum-type dryer at $115{\pm}2{^{\circ}C}$. Experimental diets for feeding trials were formulated to contain 3,400 kcal DE/kg and 17% crude protein. The tested DFW contained 2,858 kcal DE/kg, 25.0% crude protein, 17.3% crude fat, 1.37% Ca, 1.28% P, and 3.28% NaCl. As compared to crude protein content, the limiting amino acids (i.e., 0.90% lysine and 0.52% methionine) were low. The digestibilities of energy, ash, calcium and phosphorus in the DFW were generally lower than those in the grower diets, but the digestibilities of crude protein and crude fat were higher in DFW than the grower diet. Feeding DFW in pigs had a linear (p<0.01) effect on ADG and feed/gain as the inclusion levels of DFW were increased (Exp. 1). The ADG of pigs fed 40% DFW was also poorer (p<0.05) than that fed the control diet (Exp. 2). Carcass characteristics in terms of backfat and dressing percentage were not affected by dietary treatments. In conclusion, it seems that the optimal dietary inclusion level of the DFW is about 20% in the diet for growing-finishing pigs.