DETERMINATION OF INCLUSIVE LEVEL OF BASAL FEED TO FEED FORMULATION FOR PIGS OF DIFFERENT AGES TO PRODUCE QUALITY LEAN PORK WITH MINIMAL FAT

Abstract

The study determined the best inclusive level of basal feed to feed compounded for pigs at different ages to produce minimal fat and quality lean meat. The study employed true experimental design with complete randomized design (CRD). Two specific objectives, two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The population was 10 weaner piglets randomly selected and assigned to four treatments. Four different experimental diets were formulated with varying levels of basal feed (yellow maize) at 45%, 35%, 25% and 15% inclusive levels respectively. The control group piglets were fed with the conventional feed with 55% basal feed in their formulated feed. Pork obtained from pigs in the control and experimental groups were subjected to proximate analysis. Results showed that experimental pigs with feed containing 15% basal feed had the lowest fat content (cholesterol). In conclusion, the findings of the study showed that the best inclusion level for basal feed in pig feed formulation to obtain minimal fat, high quality lean meat is 15%. It is recommended that feed millers and pig farmers both at peasant and commercial levels adopt the formula used to compound the feed that produced the pork with the lowest fat content in order to produce high quality healthy lean pork for human consumption.