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Dec 31, 2022Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Performance of Weaner Pigs Placed on Composite Cassava Meal Based Diets
Abstract
A total of twenty four (24) crossbred (Landrace ×Large white) weaned pigs of average weight 12.26 + 0.54kg
were randomly assigned to four (4) treatment diets in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with six pigs per
treatment and each replicated three times with two animals per replicate. Four diets were formulated with Diet 1
(control) being maize-based, while in diet 2-4 composite cassava meal replaced 50% of maize; diet 2 containing
27% cassava root meal (CRM) and 3% cassava foliage meal (CFM)), diet 3 (24% cassava root meal and 6%
cassava foliage meal), and diet 4 (21% cassava root meal and 9% cassava foliage meal). The diets and the cassava
products (CRM and CFM) were chemically analyzed. Data were collected on weight gain, feed intake, feed
conversion ratio, carcass yield, and cost benefit calculated. Crude fibre and crude protein were higher in diets 3
and 4, and ether extract content higher in CFM than in CRM. Pigs fed the control diets (1) consumed more
feed/day (1.3kg) than those on diets 2, 3 and 4 (1.28, 1.28 and 1.23kg), dressing percentage were similar (p>0.05)
in the pigs fed diets 1 and 4, (59.67 and 59.59%) respectively. Abdominal fat was higher (p<0.05) in pigs fed diet 1
and 2 than those on diet 3 and diet4. Back fat was higher (p<0.05) in the pigs fed diet 1 than those on diets 2-4.
Cost/kg feed and cost/kg weight gain were (p<0.05) lower with higher CFM in diets. Diet 4 also recorded higher
gross margin. Feeding pigs with cassava products (CRM and CFM) at ratio 2.33 to 1 is therefore recommended as
an economical option that can replace 50% maize in weaned pig's diets.
