PERFORMANCE OF WEANER PIGS FED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L. AND JATHROPHA TANJORENSIS

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to evaluate the Performance and cost benefit of Jatropha tanjorensis leaf meal (JTLM) and Psidium guajava (PGLM) in an eight weeks feeding trial. A total of twelve (12) crossbreed (Largwhite Landrace) weaner pigs of mixed sexes were used for this experiment. Three experimental diets were formulated with Jathropha tanjorensis leaf meal (JTLM) and Psidium guajava leaf meal (PGLM) were used as supplements with formulated diet at 0% (diet 1), 3% (diet2), 3% (diet3). The 12 pigs were allocated randomly to three different treatments diets and designated as T1, T2, and T3 with two replicates per treatment. The experimental design used was Completely Randomized Design (CRD). At the end of the feeding trial which lasted for 8 weeks. Performance parameters (feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio) and Economics of production were determined accordingly. Result obtained showed highest weight gain from pigs fed diet 2 followed by those fed with diet 3 while the least was recorded for those fed with diet 1. Pigs fed diet 2 and 3 had significantly (P0.05) while the highest feed conversion ratio was obtained in diet 2 followed by T3 which did not differ significantly (P>0.05). Economics of production data indicated lowest cost per weight gain in diet 2 while the highest cost per weight was recorded in diet 1. The result revealed that inclusion of Jatropha tanjorensis and Psidium guajava leaf meals at 3% reduced cost per weight gain and feed conversion ratio while increasing weight gain. It also revealed a slight reduction in feed intake in T3.