Performance and Linear Measurements of Growing Pigs Fed on Basis of Their Body Weight

Abstract

The performance of growing pigs fed on basis of percentage of their body weight was evaluated using twenty four growing pigs of Landrace x Large White crosses weighing averagely 35±0.5 kg at the start of the study. The pigs were assigned to four treatments and each treatment was replicated thrice with two pigs per replicate in a Completely Randomized Design. An 18% CP and 11.82 MJME/kg diet was formulated and fed at levels of 10, 8, 6 and 4% of body weights in treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 56 days. Results showed that treatment effect on the response parameters were significant (P<0.05). As percentage of body weight feeding reduced, final body weight of the pigs increased significantly (P<0.05). Pigs on treatments 2, 3 and 4 had a final body weight of 68.64, 67.62, 67.68 kg respectively which differed from the 60.03 kg observed for pigs on treatment 1. Pigs fed 4% of their body weight (Treatment 4) showed superiority in the response parameters. Pigs on Treatment 4 had a feed cost/kg gain value of 79.56 naira which differed significantly from 263.21 naira, 161.78 naira and 120.67 naira recorded for pigs on T₁, T₂ and T₃ respectively. Linear body measurement of the pigs followed the same trend as observed in the other response parameters. Pigs on T₄ recorded the highest significant (P<0.05) changes in chest girth, height at withers and body length. It is concluded that feeding growing pigs at level of 4% of their body weight leads to optimum performance and better economic returns.