WEANER PIGS FED GRADED LEVELS OF MAIZE OFFAL AS REPLACEMENT FOR MAIZE. I. EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Fifteen Large White x Landrace weaner pigs, between 49-56 days of age, averaging 7.00 -+ 0.26 kg were used in a 56-day feeding trial to determine the effect of replacing maize with maize offal (at 0, 25 and 50 % of the maize fraction) in the diet on the growth and cost of
feed conversion. The diets were isonitrogenous, containing an average of 20 % crude protein. The efficiency with which the 0 and 25 % maize offal (MO) diets were utilized were better (P < 0.05) compared to the 50 "/o MO diet, though the maize-based control diet was the most efficient in terms of the protein efficiency ratio (PER) and feed:gain ratio. The economy of feed conversion showed that the lowest feed cost per kg liveweight gained was observed with the 0 and 25 % diet, which were comparable. The efficient protein  utilization by animals on the control (0 % MO) and the 25 % MO diets was a significant explanatory variable for the comparable gain, which was superior (P < 0.05) to that obtained with the 50 % MO diet. The results obtained from this study showed that weaner pigs can tolerate up to 25 % (13.09 % MO inclusion) but not 50 % (26.45 % MO inclusion) maize offal as replacement for maize in diets without animal protein supplementation when maize grain is in short supply.