The Effect of Varying Dietary Levels of Maize Cob Meal on the Growth and Nutrient Digestibility of Grower Pigs

Thirty-six large White X Landrace pigs weighing on the average 19.50 1.06 kg at 16 weeks of age were used to study the effect of corn cob meal on the performance of grower pigs. The pigs were divided into 4 treatment groups consisting of 9 per pigs treatment group. Each treatment group was further replicated 3 times 3 pigs per replicate. Four experimental diets were formulated with corn cob meal at 0, 5, 10 and 15% inclusion levels and fed to the pigs in a completely randomized design. Water and feed were provided ad libitum. Daily feed intake and digestible energy intake were significantly different (p<0.05) between treatment means. Daily weight gain, feed intake/kg live weight gain (F/g ratio) and digestible energy consumed/per kg live weight gain (DE/kg10) did not show any significant (p>0.05) difference between treatment means, however, there was significant (p<0.05) difference at 15% inclusion level. The results show that 15% corn cob meal inclusion affected the performance of pigs.