The value of palm kernel meal in finishing diets for pigs: 2. The effect of the addition of cane molasses on the utilization of high level palm kernel meal diets

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Abstract
SUMMARY: One hundred Large White x Landrace barrows and gilts were used in two experiments involving 50 pigs (25 barrows and 25 gilts) allocated on t h e basis of sex, litter origin and initial weight to five treatment groups of t en pigs each and individually and semi-restrictedly fed one of five diets. Diet one, t h e control, was a conventionally used fattener's diet based on groundnut, blood meal and maize mixtures, and containing 16 to 17% crude protein on dry-matter basis. The remaining four diets were approximately 17% crude protein diets based on palm kernel, blood meal and maize mixtures. The maize fraction was however replaced by 0, 10, 20 and 30% cane molasses in diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Growth performance, feed efficiency, nutrient utilization and carcass quality were studied.I n both trials, the groundnut meal (GNM) based diet (treatment 1) supported significantly faster rates of gain t h a n all other diets except 3. I t also tended to produce fatter pigs than those on t h e palm kernel meal (PKM) based diets. Addition of 10% cane molasses (CM) to t h e basal PKM diet (treatment 3) significantly improved feed and dry-matter intake, r a t e and efficiency of gain, crude fibre digestibility and nitrogen retention. Higher levels depressed performance as well as d ry matter, protein and ether extract digestibility. Addition of cane molasses did not significantly influence carcass characteristics.