Growth Performance of Weaner Pigs Fed Varying Dietary Levels of Pineapple Wine Sediment

Abstract

This research was carried out to solve the problem of animal protein deficiency among the Nigerian populace due to high cost and scarcity of conventional feedstuffs used in Tropical livestock production and moreover, to reduce competition between human beings and monogastric animal for food. Pineapple wine sediment was used at varying dietary levels to investigate the growth performance of weaner pigs. A total of 32 weaner pigs of large white x landrace strain of average initial weight (10.50 + 0.50 kg) were fed to T1(0%), T2(5%), T3(10%) and T4(15%) dietary inclusion levels of pineapple wine sediment meal (PWSM) for performance assessment in a completely randomized design. The trial was replicated four times and the experiment lasted for 35days. It was established from the result that PWSM could replace maize partially up to 10% dietary levels for optimum performance of weaner pigs and that at higher levels of 15% despite positive impacts on the economy of production; growth rate and feed conversion are negatively affected. Based on the above results, it is recommended that PWSM be included in the ration of weaner pigs at 10% level.