In the first and second phases, the diets with high fibre content had a higher swelling capacity and a higher WHC than the low fibre diets (Table 3). In the third phase, the swelling capacity of the low fibre diet was lower, but the WHC was higher than the high fibre diet. In comparison with the first and second phase feed, the WHC of the low fibre diets was rather high in the third phase feed.Fine or coarse grinding did not affect swelling capacity or WHC. Hardness values of the pellets were lower in the coarsely ground compared to the finely ground diets, except for the high fibre diets in the first and the second phase of growth (Table 3). The effect of fine or coarse grinding on hardness was not entirely clear.