Economies of Producing Grower Pigs Fed Different Energy Based Agro By-Products

A six-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the economics of producing grower pigs fed different agro based energy sources. Thirty two (32) grower pigs (Large white and Landrace) were used. The experimental animals were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (1,2,3 and 4) in a complete randomized design (CRD).Each treatment group contained four (4) replicate with two (2) pigs per replicate. In diet 1(control), maize was the energy source while diets 2, 3 and 4 with palm kernel cake (PKM), brewer’s dried grain (BDG) and wheat offal (WO) served as alternative energy sources respectively. The grower pigs had access to experimental feed and water ad libitum for six weeks. The cost benefit analysis revealed that the highest cost of feed per kg (₦) was recorded in the control maize diet with ₦386 while the least was in palm kernel meal (PKM) diet with ₦297.The total cost of production (₦/pig) was also highest in the maize controlled diet with ₦32,578.4 while it was lowest (₦25,482.6) in dietary treatment 2 with palm kernel meal. The revenue/income (₦/pig) was highest in diet 2 (PKM) followed by the wheat offal, maize BDG diets (₦54,360, ₦48,2404, ₦47,880 and ₦43,920) respectively. The gross profit (₦/pig) was also highest in the PKM diet followed by diet 4 (wheat offal), 3 (BDG) and least in treatment 1 (maize) with their correspondent monetary values as ₦28,877.4, ₦20,280.2, ₦15,881.4 and ₦15,301.6 respectively. In conclusion, palm kernel meal (PKM) is adjudged to be more economically viable and effective and could be used to replace maize wholly in diets of grower pigs without any negative side effect.