EFFECT OF SPLIT MEALING ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF PIGS

Abstract

The study examined the performance and cost implications of pigs on split mealing. Forty five (45) weaner pigs (Large white x Landrace) were allotted to three (3) treatments replicated 15 times of a pig per replicate in a completely randomized design in a feeding trial that lasted for 112 days. The treatments imposed were based on frequency of one or two or three meals a day. A measured quantity of feed at 5% body weight were made into either one or two or three portions and fed once or twice or thrice at 8.00 am or 8.00 am and 12.00.pm or 8.00 am and 12.00 pm and 4.00 pm, respectively throughout the experimental period. Data collected on daily feed intake and weekly weight gain were analyzed by one way analysis of variance using SPSS and differences in means where significant were separated using Duncan option of the software. Feed intake and weight gain of pigs were not influenced (P>0.05) by the frequency of feeding. Although, numerical improvement by 11.71% in the weight gain and 9.17 – 15.96% in feed intake were observed in pigs fed three times daily compared with those fed once or twice daily. Cost of pig production showed that the cost of feed expended to gain a kilogram weight of pigs was lesser in pigs fed twice (N328.37) or thrice (N343.45) a day when compared with those fed once daily (N355.29). The study showed that feeding pigs’ on split meal thrice daily improved weight gain with lower cost of production. Pig farmers are encouraged to feed their pigs thrice a day for better growth and higher economic advantage.