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Energy and protein
requirements of pigs and the utilization of fibrous
feedstuffs in Nigeria: A review
Adesehinwa, A. O. K.
Swine Research Unit, Livestock Improvement Programme,
Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Obafemi
Awolowo University, P.M.B. 5029, Moor Plantation, Ibadan.
Nigeria. E-mail:
aokadesehinwa@yahoo.com.
Accepted 11 December, 2008 |
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A sound
nutrition programme, which allows the understanding of the
interaction between nutrients and requirements for different
levels of production, is essential for raising swine
profitably. Nutrient requirement is that amount of each
essential nutrient that will result in maximum production
with a minimum of feeding. Hence, high quality feeds
containing the essential nutrients in the amounts necessary
to meet the animal’s requirements must be provided, in order
to attain an optimal rate and efficiency of growth from
birth to market. The formulation of balanced diets that
provide the correct amounts and proportions of these
nutrients is essential to support the requirements for
maintenance, growth and reproduction of the animal. It is
only then that the feeding programme can be said to have a
major impact on the performance and the overall
profitability of the swine herd. The scarcity of
conventional feeds has hindered the growth and development
of the livestock industry in Nigeria. The general shortage
of energy and protein feeds appear to be more severe for
non-ruminants that depend to a great extent on compounded
feeds, especially pigs, which are bulk feeders. There are a
number of agro-industrial by-products, farm waste or crop
residues that have been exploited as alternative feed
sources for the high energy cereals. This has made a
substantial contribution towards better and more economic
feeding of non-ruminants. However, fibrousness, a feature of
most locally available agro-industrial by-products and
wastes has limited their use.
Key
words:
Feeding
programme, balanced diets, fibrous feedstuffs. |
