Thirty-two crossbred pigs (DR x LW x LR),16 barrows and 16 gilts averaging 20
kg in body weight (BW), were used to investigate the effects of para rubber seed
kernel (PRSK) levels in the diet and gender on the productive performance of
pigs. The pigs were distributed in a 2x4 factorial experiment in CRD with 2
genders (barrow and gilt) and 4 diets (0, 10, 15 and 20% of PRSK in the diet).
Each treatment was replicated four times. The pigs were housed in individual pens
and fed ad libitum from 20-95 kg of BW. The results showed that barrows had
higher ADG and daily feed intake (DFI) than gilts (P < 0.05). Pigs fed with diet 4
(20% PRSK) showed slightly better ADG, FCR and feed cost per weight gain
than the other groups (P > 0.05). There was significant influence between PRSK
levels in the diet and gender on DFI of pigs (P < 0.05). Barrows fed with diet 4
had a higher DFI than gilts fed with diets 3 and 4 and barrows fed with diet 1 (P <
0.05). However, pigs fed with the diets containing more PRSK had slightly
thicker back fat than the control group (P >0.05).