Effect of genotype and diet on rectal digestibility of nutrients and faecal output in cuban creole pigs

four cuban creole pigs and four improved, cuban cc21 pigs, male individuals of 30 kg initial live weight were used according to a change over design in a 2x2 factorial arrangement to study the effect of genotype and of one diet based on cereals and grains containing either 6 or 12% crude fiber, on rectal digestibility and faecal output of materials. feed intake was equal to 100 g dm/kglw0.75 per day provided at 9:00 h am in a single ration. the fiber source was royal palm (roystonea regia h.b.k. cook) nuts introduced dried and ground including a 20% in the feed. the cuban creole pigs were from a genetic reservoir located in the centre of cuba (cabaiguán) and were not subjected to any program of genetic improvement. differences were not observed (p>0.05) in rectal digestibility of dm, ash, organic matter, crude fiber and nitrogen between the genotypes of pigs; the averages only show numerical differences in favor of pigs cc21. in a similar way, it was found that the diet containing 12% crude fiber determined either a not significant (p>0.05) increase in rectal digestibility of crude fiber, or a non significant (p>0.05) depression in dm, organic matter and nitrogen rectal digestibility with respect to the diet without royal palm nut meal. faecal output of fresh material was numerically greater in the cuban creole pigs and the diet with 12% of fiber (675 and 570 g/kg dm intake), but without significant (p>0.05) effect. it is considered that rectal digestibility of diets based on grains and cereals containing 20% royal palm nut meal could be better in cuban creole as well improved, exotic pigs, as compared to diets given ad libitum to this animal species fed on sugar cane molasses. besides, dietary nitrogen digestion may be poorer when growing pigs are given 20% royal palm nut meal in the feed.