Palm kernel meal as the major protein concentrate in the diets of pigs in the tropics

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Abstract
Three trials were carried out to determine the suitability of locally produced palm kernel meal (PKM) as the major protein concentrate in the diets of weaners, growers and fattening pigs in the tropics. Large White and Large White×Land‐race cross barrows and gilts were used. These were individually fed at semi‐restricted levels the various diets formulated to contain approximately 15, 12 and 16.5% crude protein for trials 1, 2 and 3 respectively, the PKM or other protein sources contributing at least 50% of the total dietary protein in all the diets. In trial 1, pigs on the PKM diet grew at a lower rate, had poorer feed: gain ratio and protein efficiency ratio and lower feed consumption than the pigs on other diets. Pigs on a fish meal diet (FM) had the best performance throughout. In trial 2, the same trends as for trial 1 were observed, except that pigs on the dried skimmed milk (DSM) diet performed better than those on all other diets. In trial 3, the pigs on the PKM diet supplemented with 10% groundnut cake or 15% DSM had slower growth rate and lower feed:gain ratio than the pigs on other diets containing lower quantities of PKM supplemented with fish meal (FM) or blood meal (BM).

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