Dietary chicory powder supplementation affects growth performance, carcass traits, and muscular profiles of amino acids and fatty acids in growing-finishing Xiangcun Black pigs

This study was conducted to explore the effects of dietary supplementation with chicory powder on the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of Xiangcun Black pigs. Forty-five pigs with an average initial body weight of 54.20 ± 8.70 kg were randomly assigned into one of three groups (15 pigs per group) according to their body weight and litter size. Pigs were fed either a basal diet with no supplement (control group), or a diet supplemented with 5% or 10% chicory powder. Results showed that compared with the control, 10% chicory powder decreased the feed:gain ratio in the first phase (P