Cassava leaves as protein supplement to basal diet for weaner pigs in a sustainable swine production system in the tropics

Abstract

Swine production is gradually being practised in Nigeria in an integrated manner where farmers apart from keeping pigs also grow root and legume crops on the farms. One of such major crops often grown is cassava. The roots have been shown to be of tremendous value as an energy source in swine feeding (Iyayi and Tewe, 1994). The leaves which are often discarded on the farm after harvest can be processed and used as protein supplement for rearing pigs because of its high protein content (19.67-39.90%, Allen, 1984). The objective of this study was to use wilted cassava leaves as supplement to basal diets for weaner pigs and estimate the overall performance, serum metabolites and nutrient digestibility of animals on such diets.