ABSTRACT

 The evaluation of the nutritional value of toasted Mucuna sloanei in the diet of grower pigs was carried out using growth performance, anti-nutritional factors and the economics of diet as parameters. A total of 18 grower pigs were used for this trial. They were allocated into three treatments having 3 replicates with 2 pigs per replicate each in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. The Mucuna sloanei seeds were toasted, milled and incorporated into their diets at varying levels (0%, 5% and 10%) respectively. Three iso-caloric (2800.85KcalIg M.E) and iso-nitrogenous (17.85% CP) feed were formulated. Diet I was purely soyabean diet (control diet) while the test feed stuff (processed) replaced soyabean in diet 2 and 3 respectively. Data were collected on quantity of feed given, the left over, weight gain, number of animals housed from where other parameters, feed conversion ratio, percentage mortality were calculated. The experiment lasted for 56 days. The economics of the diet was determined, data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and the significance means separated by Duncan's Multiple Range test. Proximate composition of the test feed stuffs CP 17.60%, CF 3.52%, C Fibre 4.97%, Ash 6.86%, NFE 43.58%, DM 89.13%, GE 3.39KcaI/g. the presence of anti-nutritional factors such as L. Dopa 1.92%, Oxalate 0.37%, Saponin 0.22% were confirmed. For growth performance, there was significant difference (P< 0.05) for final weight and feed intake only. The final weight, weight gain and feed conversion ration favoured diet 2 making diet the choice diet among others. For economics of diet, diet 2 had the highest gross margin 4323.43) as opposed to others (4104.42) for diet 1, (3537.96) diet 3, confirming the superiority of diet 2. In conclusion, based on the above, diet 2 is recommended.