Effect of Strategic Feeding of Dried Oil Palm Slurry on Performance and Carcass Quality of Grower Pigs

Abstract

In this experiment effect of dried oil palm slurry (DOPS) was assessed on feeding strategies of grower pigs. 45 cross bred grower pigs were randomly allotted into: Basal diet (Cassava peels and PKC) + concentrate (60:40) (T1), Basal diet +concentrate + DOPS (skip feeding) (T2), and Basal diet + concentrate + DOPS (Daily feeding) (T3) in a completely randomized design for 8 weeks. The weight of each animal and feed intake was measured weekly. At the end of the experiment, meat samples were collected for carcass analysis. Data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA and means were separated.Pigsfed T1 and T3 with an average daily feed intake(ADFI) of 0.446kg/day each hadsignificant (p<0.05) average daily weight gain (ADWG) of 0.189kg/day and 0.202kg/day, respectively. However, pig fed T1 showed significantly (p<0.05) high value (2.56) in the feed conversion ratio indication less utilization of feed. The live weights, bled weights, Eviscerated weight, dress weight showed significant (p<0.05) difference across the treatments with T3 having the highest value. There were significant (p<0.05) differences across the treatments in VLFOM and LR3/4FOM for TI, T2 and T3 with 0.35, 0.20, 0.40, and 0.30, 0.25, 0.60, respectively, however, LRFOM showed no significant (p>0.05) difference across the treatments.Based on findings from this study it can be concluded that feeding dried oil palm slurry daily will improve the performance and meat quality of growerpigs.