Performance and carcass characteristics of weaner pigs fed dietary raw bambara nut offal

Abstract

A 56-day feeding trial using twelve (12) crossbred weaner pigs of 8 weeks of age and average weight of 10.58±0.17kg were used to investigate the effect of different dietary levels of raw bambara groundnut offal on their growth and carcass characteristics. Four diets were formulated to contain raw bambara groundnut offal at 0, 10, 20 and 30%, designated T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. The weaner pigs were randomly assigned to the four (4) diets in a 3 4 completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. Chemical composition of the test ingredient and diets were analysed. Data collected include feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and economics of production. The carcass characteristics were also evaluated. The proximate composition of the experimental diets revealed that the crude protein and ether extract contents of the diets decreased with increased levels of raw BGO in the diets, but the converse was true for crude fibre and ash contents. The results indicated significant differences (p< 0.05) in daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, cost (N) /kg of feed and cost (N)/kg weight gain. The values were, 0.34, 0.29, 0.28 and 0.22kg for DWG, 3.03, 3.62, 3.55, and 4.30 for FCR in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Protein efficiency ratio, values were 1.84, 1.54, 1.57 and 1 2 3 4 1.29. Cost /kg of feed values were 75.69, 70.13, 64.56 and 56.10, and cost (N)/kg weight gain were 229.32, 253.86, 229.20 and 253.69 for the treatments respectively. The results of the carcass evaluation indicated significant differences (p< 0.05) for ham and trotters. The values were 0.31, 0.35, 0.37 and 0.32 for ham in T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. The values of trotters were, 64.6, 56.99, 56.98 and 53.66 among the treatments. For organs characteristics, the results indicated significant differences (p< 0.05) for lung, kidney, liver and spleen. The values of the lungs were, 11.20, 11.25, 9.40 and 8.97 among the treatments. The values of kidney and liver were, 3.34, 2.86, 3.72 and 3.14, and 24.28, 28.57, 22.55 and 27.70 respectively. The inclusion of up to 20% raw BGO in the diet of weaner pigs recorded comparable daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio and cost/kg weight gain with the group fed the control (0% raw BGO). Further studies involving heat treatment of the BGO might be necessary to improved nutrient utilization by the animals, and also increase inclusion level.

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and cost implications of supplementing Turkey poults with toasted Bambara nut by-products

“…Unlike other additives such as groundnuts, soybeans, and cowpeas, Bambara nut by-products are readily degradable sources of both dietary energy and protein Onyimonyi and Ugwu (2007) ; Ukpabi, Amaefule and Amaefule (2008) . They are economically viable feed supplements for pigs ( Okah, Ubochi & Uzoma, 2016 ; Onyimonyi & Okeke, 2007 ), egg layers, broilers and spent layers ( Onyimonyi & Ugwu, 2007 ; Ugwu & Onyimonyi, 2008 ).…”