PERFORMANCE OF WEANER PIGS FED 50% 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 50% at 0,30,40,50 and 60 % replacement levels. MUSARPOMS diet was fed as replacement for yellow maize in the diet of weaner pigs. The study was carried out for a period of eight weeks(feeding trial) to evaluate the performance of pigs fed MUSARPOMS based diet. Twenty weaner pigs with an initial weight of 10.00 -12.00kg were randomly allocated to five treatments:0%(control),30%,40%,50% and 60% replacement levels of  50% MUSARPOMS grade(ripe plantain and palm oil mill slurry. These five treatments were replicated four times using four pigs per treatment: two females and two males. These pigs were fed MUSARPOMS based diets ad-libitum and watered for eight weeks with an adaptation period of two weeks where the pigs were fed the control diet. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the initial live weight of the weaner pigs fed diets containing MUSARPOMS 50% grade. Treatment 5(MSP50% with 60% replacement recorded the highest initial live weight(14.43kg) whereas Treatment 1(control) recorded the least weight(10.25kg). Treatment 5 (MSP50% with 60% replacement) recorded the highest final live weight(42.00kg) whereas Treatment 1(control) recorded the lowest final live weight(25.62kg). This result indicated that there was significant difference(p<0.05) between the initial live weight and the final live weight of weaner pigs fed with MUSARPOMS 50% grade. The result also shows that there was significant difference(p<0.05) in the total weight gained by the weaner pigs. The result from this study showed that using MUSARPOMS on yellow maize did not have a significant difference on the performance on weaner pigs hence,it is suitable to use in the diets of pigs.