EFFECT OF DIETS CONTAINING VARYING LEVELS OF FERMENTED CASSAVA PEEL MEAL ON PERFORMANCE OF WEANERS PIGS

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding weaners pig with varying levels of fermented cassava peel meal. In this study, twenty-four (24) cross-bred (Landrace X Large white) weaner pigs were randomly assigned to individual pens.  The animals were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments T1: 0%, T2: 25%, T3: 50% and T4: 75% FCPM with six pigs per treatment and a pig per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). All data generated were subjected to analysis of variance of SAS 2002, version 9.0 and significant differences among treatment means were compared using Tukey test. Growth performance result showed that dietary treatments had no significant effect (P>0.05) on all growth performance indices evaluated. Initial weights ranged from (9.92 - 10.0kg±0.58) while Final weights ranged from (24.00 - 27.92 kg ±1.41) respectively. Pigs fed 25% FCPM recorded the highest feed intake (49.42 kg±2.74) and weight gain (17.75 kg±0.90). Inclusion of the FCPM diets did not significantly improve the growth performance of the pigs. Inclusion level of FCPM up to 75% significantly reduce cost of feed per kg resulting in a better production economics for weaner pig.