College of Agriculture, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo state, Nigeria; Dept. of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Nigeria
Oluwafemi, R.A., College of Agriculture, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo state, Nigeria; Akpodiete, O.J., Dept. of Animal Science, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Nigeria
The effects of Palm kernel Cake with or without enzyme supplementation on the performance, haematology and serum chemistry of weaner pigs were compared in a study, which lasted for eighty four days. Thirty weaner pigs of the Large White x Duroc crossbreed with average initial live weight range of 10.5 to 14kg allotted into five groups were used. Five experimental diets in which Palm Kernel cake was used as replacement for maize were formulated as follows: Diet 1 (control) had 0% PKC and no enzyme inclusion, Diet 2 had 40% PKC and with enzyme, Diet 3 had 40% PKC and without enzyme, Diet 4 had 60% PKC with enzyme while Diet 5 had 60% PKC without enzyme. The animals were randomly assigned to the dietary treatments in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD). The enzyme - HemicelĀ® was mixed with the PKC portion at the rate of 600g/ton before incorporation into the diets. Performance characteristics measured include: average daily gains (kg), average daily feed intake (kg), feed cost/gain (N), haematological and serological characteristics among others. The results showed that there were significant (P<0.05) differences in average daily gain (ADG), average total weight gain (ATWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The Red Blood Cell (RBC) of weaner pigs in treatment 4 (60%PKC + Enzyme) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the others while the mean haemoglobin (Hb) values were significantly (P<0.05) different among the treatment means. The Serum levels of Albumin and the Urea of the experimental animals were not affected by the experimental diets but the total protein was highest (P<0.05) for weaners in treatment 3 (40% PKC without enzyme) than those fed the remaining dietary treatments. There was however no deleterious effect of the dietary treatments on the experimental animals throughout the study period. Therefore up to 60% inclusion level of palm kernel cake with or without enzyme supplementation could be used as replacement for maize in weaner pig's ration.