The influence of type of palm kernel cake on the growth rate and carcass characteristics of pigs

Abstract

Forty-eight large white pigs at an average initial liveweight of 20 kg were distributed over three treatments made up of a control diet and two diets containing palm kernel cake from two oilmills, incorporated into the diets at 300 g/kg level. The average daily gains of the pigs were 0.57, 0.46, and 0.49 kg/day on control, Oilmill A (PKC A), and Oilmill B (PKC B) diets during the grower period. Corresponding values were 0.60, 0.63, and 0.65 kg/day during the finisher period, and 0.60, 0.54, and 0.55 kg/day during the entire grower-finisher period. Feed conversion efficiency (kg/kg liveweight gain) with the pigs on the diets were 3.44, 3.87, and 3.94 (grower period), 4.53, 5.63, and 4.91 (finisher period), and 4.0, 4.77, and 4.41 (grower-finisher period). There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the carcass length, eye muscle area, and the hand joint of the pigs. Other measures of carcass characteristics were not significantly (P > 0.05) different. There was the indication, however, of non-significant differences in the carcass characteristics due to the type of the palm kernel cake. The study has shown that palm kernel cake with high level of residual fat induced higher average daily gain, better feed conversion efficiency, increased carcass fatness with reduced leaness in pigs.


Ghana Jnl.agric. Sci Vol.31(2), 1998: 181-186