ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to assess the influence of feeding varying levels of a mixture of
cassava peels and
palm kernel cake (PKC) at a 1:1 ratio (w/w) on the performance of weaner pigs. Forty (40) weaner
Large White pigs were divided into 5 treatment groups based on their average initial body weights
(8.88 to 9.32kg), and each group allocated to one of five treatment diets in which the cassava
peels/PKC mixture replaced 0%, 25% 50% 75% and 100% of the dietary maize in a completely randomized
design (CRD). During the feeding trial, weekly feed consumption and weight changes were recorded
for all the levels, while weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio were
estimated to assess performance of the weaner pigs. There were significant (p<0.05)> differences in
the performance characteristics of the weaner pigs among treatments. Pigs fed diets with the 25%
maize replacement diet exhibited superior final weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein
efficiency ratio (25.67kg, 2.06 and 2.52) respectively. However, the dietary inclusion of cassava
peels/PKC in diets of the weaner pigs as an alternative energy source at 25% maize replacement
level yielded the highest profit per pig of N2191.30, and proved to be the most efficient and cost
effective ration in this study.
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