Performance, Carcass Indices and Cost Benefit Analysis of Grower Pig Fed Tiger Nut Residue

Abstract

A sixty day (60) feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding graded levels of tigernut residue (TNR) on the growth performance, carcass and organ characteristics and cost benefits of growing pigs.  A total of 36 pigs (land race and large white) at 10 weeks of age were used for the experiment.  Four experimental diets were formulated to incorporate TNR as maize substitute at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% levels to form , and respectively.  The experimental pigs were individually weighed and assigned to four dietary treatments with three replicates of three animals each in a completely randomized design.  Data collected were statistically analyzed.  The results of growth performances showed no significant differences (p˃0.05) across treatment groups.  Pigs fed 10% and 20% TNRdiets recorded numerical increase in final weight and weight gain values over 0% and 30% groups.  The feed intake of the pigs was statistically similar (p˃0.05) across treatment. Better feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency values were obtained from 10% and 20% TNR groups.  The live weight, dressed weight, dressed percentage and primal cut-parts (ham, hand and shoulder hind leg trollers, rib, head, tail, loin, bacon, back fat thickness and abdominal fat) were not significantly (p˃0.05) affected by the treatment. The internal organs (liver, kidney, spleen, lungs, heart, small intestine and large intestine) were not significantly (p˃0.05) affected by the diets across treatment groups.  Cost of feed/kg (N) and feed cost per kg weight gain decreased significantly (p˃0.05) with the inclusion of TNR in the diet.  The result showed that TNR could replace maize up to 30% level in growing pig diet without any adverse effect on the performance, carcass/organ characteristics and also give lower cost of feeding.