maize in diets of growing pigs: effects on performance, serum metabolites, nutrient
digestibility and cost of feed conversion. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 13: 593-600
A feeding trial was conducted using 36 growing Largewhite x Landrace pigs with initial live
weight of 36.50±1.38 kg to determine the effect of replacing maize with palm kernel cake (PKC) on
the performance and economy of production of growing pigs. The product (PKC) was included
in the diets at the level of 50% and 100% to replace maize weight for weight (in the control diet
containing 30 kg maize). The results obtained with the performance characteristics of the growing
pigs during the 42-day experimental period showed no significant (P>0.05) difference among
treatments. The average daily feed intake, daily weight gain, efficiencies of feed and protein
utilization were comparable across the treatment groups. The cost of feed conversion, in terms of
cost of feed consumed/day and the feed cost/kg live weight gain of the pigs decreased (P0.05) influenced
by the replacement levels of the PKC. It can thus be inferred that PKC can effectively and
efficiently replace maize, weight for weight, in diets of growing pigs as an energy source, even up
to the total replacement of the maize fraction (30 kg/100 kg of diet) without depressing the
performance of the growing pigs and the efficient utilization of the diet.