POTENTIAL OF FORAGE (PANICUM MAXIMUM) ON NUTRIENT DIGESTABILITY OF YOUNG PIGS

Abstract

A feeding trial was carried out with a total of 30 pigs to evaluate the potential of fresh forage (Panicum maximum) on the appar+ent nutrient digestibility of young pigs. The trial lasted for 63days. Five diets were formulated which contained 5, 10, 15 and 20% levels of the fresh grass forage in diets T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. Each diet formed a treatment which was fed to the pigs. Pigs were fed 4% of their body weight, and water given ad-libitum. Treatments were replicated thrice and each contained two pigs in a completely randomized design. Faecal and urine data samples were collected by using a metabolizable cage (107cm x 60cm x 50cm). The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using Statistical Analysis System and significant differences between treatment means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test. Parameters measured indicated that crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and crude fibre (CF) showed significant (P<0.05) differences. The animals fed on diet T3 (10% inclusion of grass forage) had the highest CP digestibility while there was a decrease in digestibility coefficient of ether extract in diet T5 (20%inclusion level of grass) but those that were fed on the diets that has a lesser grass forage had more EE digestion. Crude fibre digestion was more on grass contained diets and less in lower grass containing diets. For optimal productivity, 15% inclusion of grass forage in the diets pigs is therefore recommended.