Growth Performance of Weaner Pigs Fed Graded Levels of Sundried Cassava Peel Meal

Abstract

A twelve-week feeding trail was conducted to evaluate the effects of cassava peel meal on growth performance of (24) crossbred weaner pigs allocated to four dietary treatments replicated three times in a Completely Randomized Design with each replicates having two pigs. Treatment I had 0% CPM while II, III and IV had cassava peel meal of 25%, 50% and 75% respectively. The pigs were allowed free access to feed and clean drinking water ad-libitum and routine management and medication were intact. Result on the growth performance revealed that the live weight was significantly (p<0.05) influenced with highest recorded in pigs fed the control comparable to those on 50% CPM. Daily and weekly weight gain of the pigs were significantly (p<0.05) influenced with highest values recorded in control comparable to those on 50%CPM, while lowest value was from those on diet 4. Daily and weekly feed intake were also significantly (p<0.05) highest among those fed 75% CPM, followed by those on 50% CPM, and least in control. Feed conversion ratio was also significantly (p<0.05) higher in those fed 75% CPM and least in the control though better in the control. Results obtained from the experiment showed that sun-dried cassava peel meal can effectively replace maize up to 50% level in diets of weaner pigs without any deleterious effects on the growth performance.