Performance And Serum Metabolites Of Grower Pigs Fed Groundnut Cake, Extruded Soyabean Meal And Cottonseed Cake-Based Diets

Abstract

The study assessed the effect on performance and serum metabolites of ninety grower pigs fed extruded full-fat soyabean meal (ESBM) and cottonseed cake (CSC) as partial (-50%) and whole (100%) replacement  for groundnut cake (GNC) in practical-type  diets over 12 weeks feeding period. Ninety Large White X Landrace pigs average initial live weight of 30.50+1.4kg were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments and each treatment had three replicates The diets were iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. The ESBM in the diets showed an  improvement in average daily weight gain and eed conversion. Diet in which there was 50%replacement of GNC with ESBM gave the best  result (P<0.05). However, general trend showed a numerical increase with levels of ESBM and CSC in the diets. Serum albumin  and cholesterol levels were significantly (P<0.05) reduced by inclusion of extruded full-fat soyabean meal, and CSC while serum creatinine level was increased.