Preliminary on-station study of growth performance of grower pigs on ensiled cassava pulp and dried cassava leaves.

2012

English

The performance of grower pigs on diets containing graded levels of cassava pulp, cassava peels and dried cassava leaves was studied. Twenty-four Large White grower pigs at an average initial live-weight of 20 kg were distributed over six diets by the completely randomized design. The pulp was preserved by ensiling in polyethylene bags for a period of three months before use. The pigs were group-fed once-daily for five weeks. The average daily gains (ADG) of the pigs were 0.27, 0.19, 0.28, 0.26, 0.15 and 0.20 kg live-weight gain/day on diets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. The cost of feed were 0.16, 0.15, 0.15, 0.13, 0.12 and GH¢0.10 per kg of feed for diets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively. The corresponding economy of gain (EG) were 0.58, 0.74, 0.53, 0.49, 0.72 and GH¢0.49. The highest inclusion rate was 30% for the pulp and 20% for the leaves. The pigs were weighed weekly over a five week period. Whereas the ADG of the pigs in this study was best on diet 3 (25% pulp), the EG was best on the diets 4 (30% pulp) and 6 (20% cassava leaves).

Rhule, S. W. A.; Asiedu, P.; Ameleke, G. Y.; Baiden, R. Y.; Sottie, E. T.; Otsyina, H. R.