WEANER PIGS FED GRADED LEVELS OF MAIZE OFFAL AS REPLACEMENT FOR MAIZE. 2. EFFECT ON SERUM METABOLITES

Abstract

Eighteen largewhite x Landrace weaner pigs, between 49-56 days of age, averaging 7.00 +_0.26kg were used in a 56-day feeding trial to determine the effect of replacing maize with maize offal (at 0,25 and 50%1o f the maize fraction) in the diet on the serum metabolites of the pigs. The diets.were isonitrogenous, containing an average of 20"h crude protein. The dry matter and protein intake were higher at the 50"h maize offal (MO) inclusion (N0.05). The inclusion of MO in the diets increased the crude fibre and decreased the ether extract contents numerically, thereby diluting their energy concentration as the inclusion levels increased (P<O.OS). Serum total proteins, albumin, globulin, urea, cholesterol and glucose contents of the pigs across the treatments were not significantly (P0.05) influenced by inclusion of MO in the diets. The result was an indication that this class of pigs could tolerate the MO inclusion without any adverse effect on its well being.