USE OF MILK BY-PRODUCT AS ADDITIVE IN DIET OF WEANER PIGS

Abstract

The study assessed effect of solid milk waste (SMW) on the performance of weaner pigs. A basal diet that met the nutrient requirements of weaner pigs was formulated, which served as the control diet (Diet 1). Solid milk waste was added to the basal diet at 0.5 and 1 % to make diets 2 and 3 respectively. Fiftyfour (54) weaned pigs (Largewhite × Landrace), average 11.8 ± 1.21 kg body weight (BW), were apportioned to three treatments by BW in three replications with 6 pigs per pen in a completely
randomized design. Pigs were fed each treatment diet throughout the experimental period using concrete drinker and semi-automatic feeders. Feeds and water were supplied ad libitum. Weekly feed intake and body weight gain were obtained and feed conversion ratio was calculated. The experimental period was 28 days. The performance indices had no significant (p>0.05) difference among dietary treatments. There was no treatment effect on daily weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio. However, pig fed diet with 1% SMW had improved daily weight gain (0.423 kg), better feed conversion ratio (2.64) and
higher daily feed intake (1.114 kg). It was therefore concluded that addition of solid milk waste in the diets of weaner pigs had no deleterious effect on the performance of the animals.