GROWTH INDICES, PRODUCTION ECONOMICS AND ORGANOLEPTIC ASSESSMENT OF WEANED PIGS FED FERMENTED HIGH QUALITY CASSAVA PEEL® MEAL IN PLACE OF MAIZE

Abstract

The growth indices, production economics, and organoleptic assessment of weaned pigs offered fermented high-quality cassava peel (HQCP) meal in place of maize were examined in an eight-week feeding trial. Thirty male pigs (Large white crossed with Landrace, average weight of 6.47±0.26kg) were divided into five dietary treatment groups, each with six replicates. Five experimental diets were formulated. A palm kernel cake-maize-soybean meal-based diet was the control (1). The maize was replaced with fermented HQCP meal at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% respectively in diets 2, 3, 4, and 5. The meal had 7.85% crude protein, 4.46% ether extract, 7.10% crude fibre, 6.80% ash, 64.09% nitrogen-free extract, 90.30% dry matter content and 2895.31 kcal/kg metabolizable energy. The feed conversion ratio differs (p<0.05) among the groups. Feed cost (FC) and FC per kg per weight gain were reduced with increasing fermented HQCP while the economic efficiency of gain increased (p<0.05). Organoleptic assessment of colour and flavour differs among the groups (p<0.05). Therefore, fermented HQCP meal can replace 75% of maize in diets of weaned pigs without any adverse effect on growth, production economics, and organoleptic assessment.