ABSTRACT

 An experiment was carried out to determine the chemical compositions ofdried and fermented cassava peels meals and their effects on the performance, blood profile, carcass yield and feed cost analysis of weaner pigs. Dried and fermented cassava peels were ground into meals and analyzed forthe proximate and phytochemical compositions and pH values. The metabolizable energy values of the samples were calculated. Five experimental weaner pig diets were formulated such that diet Ti (control) contained 100% maize. Diet T2 contained 30% dried cassava peels meal (DCPM) while diets T3, T4 and T5 contained 30, 40, and 50% fermented cassava peels meal (FCPM) as replacement for maize respectively. They were fed to 3 0 weaner pigs in three replicates for 56 days. The design was a complete randomized design. The results indicated higher dry matter (DM) content in FCPM (89.24%) than in DCPM (88.66%), and higher DM in diet 5 (90.64%) than in other diets, which ranged from 89.67 to 89.80%. The ash, crude protein and ether extract contents of DCPM (%) were higher than the values obtained in FCPM (%). The fibre (%), CHO (%) and ME(Kcal/kg) were higher in the FCPM ' than DCPM. Fermentation resulted to lower pH in the cassava peels meal. The antinutrients (tannin, HCN, saponin, oxalate, and phytate) were lower in the FCPM than in the DCPM. The highest (p<0.05) daily weight gain (0.27kg), was obtained in diets 3, though similar (p>0.05) to 0.25kg obtained in diets 1 and 2. The feed conversion ratio in diet 3 group was better than that ofdiet 4 (2.99) but similar to those obtained in diets 1(2.56). 2(2.72) and 5(2.84). Pigs fed diet3 had significantly higher dressing percentage (62.97%) than those fed diets 1 and 5 (60.19 and 59.98%). The relative internal organ weights did not follow any pattern, but liver (3.54%) and lungs (2.15%) obtained in diet 3 were higher than diet 2 (2.75%) for liver and diet 4 • (1.29%) for lungs. The hematological and white blood cell differentials differed significantly (p<0.05) among the treatment groups with most ofthe higher values obtained (Hb(g/dl), PCV (%), RBC (xl06mm3), TWBC x 103mm3, Lymphocytes and Eosinophils (%)) in the group fed diets 5 (50%FCPM), but all were within the normal range. Total protein, albumin and globulin (g/dl) and ALP (p/1) were significantly (P>0.05) higher in animals fed diet 5 than in the other groups, except ALT(p/l) in diet 1. AST(p/l), urea and cholesterol (mg/dl) were higher in pigs fed diet 1. Cassava peels meal generally lowered cholesterol levels in pigs. However, all the biochemical parameters measured were within the normal ranges. Feed cost (N)/kg were lower in cassava peels meal diets than the maize-based diets. Revenue was highest at the 30% FCPM ' replacement for maize. Replacement ofmaize with fermented cassava peels meal did not show any adverse effect on the performance of pigs. However, the best performance and cost effectiveness were obtained at 30% FCPM replacement for maize.