Effects of cassava residue supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, occurrence of diarrhea, fecal microflora and blood profiles in weaning pigs

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementation of cassava residue supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, occurrence of diarrhea, fecal microflora and blood profiles in weaning pigs. A total of 128 crossbred weaning pigs ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) with averaging 7.98 ± 0.83 kg of initial body weight were allotted to 4 treatments in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. Each treatment composed of 8 replications with 4 pigs per pen. The treatments were 1) Control (basal diet) 2) C 5 (replacing corn with cassava residue by 5%) 3) C 10 (replacing corn with cassava residue by 10%) and 4) C 15 (replacing corn with cassava residue by 15%). Three phase feeding programs (phase Ⅰ for 0 to 2 week, phase Ⅱ for 3 to 4 week and phase Ⅲ for 5 to 6 week) were used in this experiment. In feeding trial, there were no significant differences in BW, ADG, ADFI and G:F ratio among treatments. During 3 to 4 week, there was linear response on ADG as dietary cassava residue increased (P<0.05). Pigs fed increasing cassava residue had decreased ADFI (linear, P<0.05) during 5 to 6 week and the whole experimental period. In nutrient digestibility, there were linear responses on digestibilities of crude protein and crude fat as dietary cassava residue increased (P<0.01). The occurrence of diarrhea during 0 to 2 week was decreased when pigs were fed 5% of cassava residue diet compare to that of control diet (P<0.01). During 0 to 2 week, pigs fed 10% or 15% of dietary cassava residue showed higher E. coli and Salmonella counts compared to those of pigs fed 0% or 5% of cassava residue (P<0.01, P<0.05, respectively). Linear response was observed in IGF-1 concentration as cassava residue supplementation increased during 3 to 4 week (P<0.05). Consequently, these results demonstrated that cassava residue as an alternative feed ingredient could be supplemented at 10% level in weaning pig diet without growth retardation.