Utilization of bovine blood-rumen digesta mixture as replacement for soybean meal and groundnut cake feedstuff in growing pigs

Abstract

Mixture of bovine blood and rumen digesta (BBRDM) was evaluated for 56 days as a replacement for soybean meal (SBM) and groundnut cake (GNC) at 100% on protein to protein basis in the diets of growing pigs to assess the nutritive value of BBRDM on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and cost benefits. Hence, a total of 18 growing pigs were allotted on weight equalization basis into three dietary treatments consisting of six pigs per treatment in a completely randomized design. Three diets were formulated such that T₁: served as the control diet without BBRDM but contained both soybean meal and groundnut cake. T₂: BBRDM replaced soybean meal and T₃: BBRDM replaced groundnut cake. Result indicated that BBRDM contained 28.65% crude protein, 13.17% ether extract, 5.26% crude fibre, 11.29% ash and 31.65% nitrogen free extract. Dietary treatments did not significantly (P>0.05) influenced the growth parameters observed in this study. Although there were no significant (P>0.05) difference on the nutrient digestibility parameters investigated but birds in T₃ recorded highest numerical values for crude protein (77.23), crude fibre (62.46%), ether extract (92.33%), nitrogen free extract (89.61%), ash (70.28%) and nutrient dry matter (91.67%) while the least values were obtained from birds in T₁. Cost of feed decreased with the inclusion of BBRDM while the cost per weight gain also improved with the replacement of the conventional feed ingredients. The result also showed that an appreciable amount of money was saved when BBRDM was included in the ration of growing pigs. It is therefore concluded that BBRDM could be used as an animal protein source to compliment plant protein source such as soybean meal and groundnut cake in the diet of growing pigs.

Keywords: Pig, Bovine Blood Rumen Digesta Mixture, Groundnut cake, Soybean meal