PERFORMANCE OF WEANER PIGS FED 25% MUSARPOMS AS A REPLACEMENT FOR MAIZE IN THEIR DIETS

ABSTRACT

The growth performance of weaner pigs was determined using a new feed grade coded MUSARPOMS 25% at 30, 40, 50 and 60% replacement levels. Weaner pigs were fed MUSARPOMS diets in place of maize for a six-week feeding trial to evaluate performance. Twenty weaner pigs aged 6 weeks and weighing an average of 10 kg were randomly allocated to five treatments: 0 (Control), 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% replacement levels of MUSARPOMS 25% Grade (25% ripe plantain peels and 75% palm oil mill slurry mixture These five treatments were replicated four times, using four pigs per treatment ;two males and two females. There was significant difference (P<0.05) between the initial live weight of the weaner pigs fed diets containing graded levels of 25% MUSARPOMS. Treatment 2 (MSP25% with 30 % replacement) recorded the highest initial live weight (13.13 kg) whereas Treatment 1 (Control) recorded the least weight (8.25kg). The result shows that there was significant difference (P<0.05) between the final live weight of the weaners fed diets containing graded levels of 25% MUSARPOMS. Treatment 5 (MSP25% with 60 % replacement) recorded the highest final live weight (30.38kg) whereas Treatment 1 (Control) recorded the least at 20.25kg. Furthermore, the result indicated that there was no significant difference (P<0.05) between the total weight gain of the weaners fed diets containing graded levels of 25% MUSARPOMS; Treatment 5 (MSP25% with 60 % replacement) recorded the highest total weight gain (17.25kg) followed by Treatment 2 (MSP25% with 30 % replacement) which recorded 15.72kg, Treatment 4 (MSP25% with 50 % replacement) which recorded 14.55kg, Treatment 3 (MSP25% with 40 % replacement) which recorded 13.95kg whereas Treatment 1 (Control) recorded 12.00kg. The results from this study showed that utilizing these ingredients as a partial replacement for maize did not have significant influence on the performance of the weaner pigs. Weight gain in particular did not differ significantly among Treatments.