Effects Of Substituting Maize For Yellow Cocoyam (Xanthosoma Sagittifolium) As Enery Source For Weaner Pigs

The research was conducted to investigate the dietary effect of substituting maize for cocoyam (Xanthosoma Sagittifolium) as energy source for weaner pigs. The experiment was conducted at the Swine unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The cocoyam was collected and processed by sundring to form a cocoyam corm meal (CCM).A total of 16 weaner pigs of large white were used for the study. The pigs were divided into 4 groups based on average initial weights (20-25kg) and each group of weaner pigs were respectively allocated to each of the four treatment diets using a completely randomized design (CRD). Each treatment group contained 2 replicates of 4pigs, 2male and 2female). These pigs were fed twice daily and water supplied ad-libitium. Four diets were formulated to contain 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% of CCM. Data were collected on growth performance and blood profile. Result revealed that there was significant (P>0.05) differences on all the growth performance parameters measured. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed on all blood profile parameters measured except the albumin and creatinine. The albumin and creatinine values ranged from 2.63-3.52 g/dl and 0.90- 1.50mg/dl respectively. It can be concluded that weaner pigs fed 20% CCM based diet yielded best results in terms of performance and there was no detrimental effect on their blood profile. Implications and recommendations were made from the findings of the study