ABSTRACT

A total of 12 lactating saws comprising 4 each of Large White (LW), Duroc and

LW X Duroc breeds were used in a study to compare the nutrient composition in

their colostrum and normal milk (NM). The nutrients compared were total solids

(TS), crude protein (CP), Bufterfat, lactose, ash, Ca and phosphorous. The

relationship between these nutrients in the 3 breeds were also investigated. All

the sows farrowed between February and March 2012 and were in their first

parity. The LW, Duroc and LW X Duroc farrowed 11, 14 and 8 piglets

respectively. The saws were fed a concentrate diet made up of cassava peels,

brewers dry grain, palm kernel cake, soya bean meal, bone meal, premix and

salt (3-4kg) twice daily depending on the number of piglets farrowed. LW breed

recorded higher concentration of TS in colostrum (26.45%) than the other

breeds (P<0.05). The yields of TS in Duroc and cross bred were similar (24.80 vs

25.10%). The crude protein concentration in sow colostrum were similar for the

three breeds; 14.4, 15.6 and 16.24% for LW, Duroc and LW X Duroc breeds,

respectively. The breeds differed significantly (P<0.05) in their colostrum

concentration of BF; 7.48, 6.43 and 6.95 percent respectively for LW, Duroc and

cross bred. Significant differences did not exist in colostrum concentration of

lactose, ash, Ca, P among the breeds. In the normal milk of the 3 breeds TS, Ca

and P values were similar. The TS values were 17.9, 18.0 and 17.65 percent

respectively for the LW, Duroc and LW X Duroc breeds. The other nutrients CP,

BF, lactose and ash concentrations differed significantly (P<0.05) among the

breeds. Crude protein (6.30%), lactose (5.88%) and ash (l.40%) concentrations

of LW and NM were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the values in the other 2

breeds. The cross bred and duroc saws yielded similar (P>0.05) and higher

(P<0.05) BF in NM than the LW bred. In the colostrum the relationship between

TS, and CP, TS and BF, CP and BF, ash and Ca, and BF and lactose were

positively and non significantly correlated. Ash and phosphorous were positive

and significantly correlated only in Duroc colostrum. In NM, the relationships

between the various nutrients were positive and non significant. The study has

highlighted some changes between the breeds in their colostrum and normal

milk constituents which is vital to understanding the development of the piglets.