Performance of growing pigs fed diets containing cassava peels meal supplemented with three levels of roxazyme G2G enzyme

Abstract

This research was designed to evaluate the performance of growing pigs fed diets containing cassava peel meal supplemented with three (3) levels of roxazymeG2 enzyme. Fresh cassava peels were gathered, thinly spread on a concrete floor to dry out and milled prior to proximate analysis and feed formulation. Five experimental diets were formulated. Diet one had maize as main energy source, while Diets 2 to 5 had 50% of maize replaced with cassava peel meal. Diets 3, 4 and 5 were further supplemented with roxazyme G2 non starch polysaccharide enzyme at 1g/kg, 1.5g/kg and 2g/kg, respectively. A total of thirty (30) cross bred growing pigs were selected and distributed into five (5) groups on weight equalization basis with six (6) animals per group. Each group was assigned to one of the five (5) experimental diets in a completely randomized design. The growth and economy of production were monitored throughout the 56-day duration of the trial. At the end of the feeding trial, 10 mLs of blood was collected from three animals on each treatment into sample bottles with EDTA for hematological analysis. Data were subjected to analysis of variance procedures. The results revealed that the three (3) levels of dietary enzyme supplementations did not significantly (P˃0.05) influenced the average daily feed intake but influenced the average daily weight gain and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly. Pigs on diets with 1.5 and 2g/kg enzyme supplementation had the highest average daily weight gain of 0.43kg while those on 2g/kg enzyme supplementation diet had the best FCR with value corresponding to 1.74. Dietary enzyme supplementation reduced (P<0.05) the cost of feed production and the cost of feed consumed from N 79.65 and N 3154.40 in control diet to 43.92 and 1892.95 in 1.0g/kg enzyme supplementation. The cost of feed per gain was reduced from N172.83 to N90.50 for diet with 1.0g/kg enzyme supplementation. The dietary treatment had no influence on all the observed hematological parameters. It was therefore concluded that in a pig's diet where 50% of the maize is replaced with cassava peel meal, dietary enzyme supplementation should not exceed 1.5g/kg of feed for optimum level of economic production.