Growth rate and carcass characteristics of large white pigs fed on ensiled cassava pulp diets.

2012

English

Twenty four Large White (LW) grower pigs at an average live weight of 27 kg were distributed over three treatments made up of diets containing 0, 25 and 30 percent ensiled cassava pulp. Diets were made similar to contain 15% Crude protein. Pigs were taken off the study on attaining an individual live weight of 60±5 kg slaughtered and carcass characteristics determined. The average live weight gains by the pigs were 0.40, 0.42 and 0.44 kg/day on Diet 1 (0%), Diet 2 (25%) and Diet 3 (30%) respectively. The feed conversion ratios by the pigs were 4.20, 4.30 and 5.00 kg feed /kg live-weight gain for Diets 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Eye muscle area of the pigs were 33.2, 27.3 and 37.7cm2 on Diets 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Trimmed fat on the carcasses were 3.3, 2.6 and 2.4 kg respectively. The study indicated that cassava pulp could be preserved by ensiling for feeding pigs over the grower phase at least: That the cassava pulp fed at an inclusion rate of 30% gave pig performance comparable to that on the cereal-based diet. It was indicated that maize, could be completely replaced in the diet of the grower pig with ensiled cassava pulp.

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