Three experiments were carried out to determine the nutritional values and evaluate the performance of piglets fed on canola meal. In experiment I, a digestibility assay was conducted using fourteen barrow pigs, with an initial body weight of 20.62±3.30 kg. The evaluated feedstuff was canola meal, with a level of 250 g/kg in the basal diet (corn + soybean meal-based). The experimental unit consisted of one pig, with a total of seven experimental units per diet. The values as (fed basis) of digestible (DE) and metabolizable (ME) energy of canola meal were 2,995 kcal/kg and 2,796 kcal/kg, respectively. In experiment II, ileal digestibility assays were carried out to determine the apparent and true ileal digestibility coefficient and digestible amino acids. Three crossbred pigs were used, with a BW of 38.6±1.98 kg. The treatments consisted of two diets, with a single source of protein (canola meal) and one protein-free diet (OFD). The values of digestible amino acids in canola meal were as follows: lysine: 11.8 g/kg; methionine+cystine: 9.1 g/kg; threonine: 7.9 g/kg; tryptophan: 2.4 g/kg; leucine: 15.7 g/kg; and isoleucine: 8.7 g/kg. In experiment III, 60 piglets (BW= 15.08±0.72 kg to 30.26±2.78 kg) were allotted in a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of four diets with increasing levels of canola meal (50, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg), six replicates and experimental unit consisted of two pigs. Additionally, a control diet was formulated containing 0.0 g/kg CM. Regression analysis indicates that there was no effect (P≥0.05) of the level of canola meal inclusion on pigs performance. The performance results suggest that it is feasible to use up to 200 g/kg of canola meal in starting pigs diet, without impairing performance and the feeding cost. Key words: Digestible amino acids, digestibility, ileal cannula, protein food, performance
ResumoForam conduzidos três experimentos com o objetivo de determinar o valor nutricional e avaliar o desempenho de leitões alimentados com farelo de canola (FC). No Experimento I foi conduzido um ensaio de digestibilidade total com 14 suínos mestiços de linhagem comercial, machos castrados, com 20,32±3,30 kg de PV inicial. O alimento teste foi o farelo de canola, com o nível de 250 g/kg na ração referência (milho + farelo de soja). Cada suíno constituiu uma unidade experimental, totalizando sete unidades experimentais por ração. Os valores de energia digestível (ED) e energia metabolizável (EM) na matéria natural para o FC foram 2995 kcal/kg e 2796 kcal/kg respectivamente. No Experimento II foi conduzido um ensaio para determinar os coeficientes de digestibilidade ileal aparente e verdadeira e aminoácidos digestíveis. Foram utilizados três suínos canulados com 38,6±1,98 kg de PV. Os tratamentos consistiram em duas dietas, uma dieta contendo FC como única fonte de proteína e uma dieta isenta de