EFFECT OF DIETARY INCLUSION OF MUGA SILKWORM PUPA MEAL ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF LARGE WHITE YORKSHIRE GROWER PIGS

Abstract

Eighteen Large White Yorkshire grower pigs (weight ranged from 9.0 to 9.06 kg) were divided into three groups using randomized block design and they were supplemented with 0, 2% and 4% muga silkworm pupa powder by replacing the normal soybean diet and designated as T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The protein content of the experimental diets was found to be 17.85 ± 0.21, 18.17 ± 0.04 and 18.17 ± 0.11 respectively in T1, T2 and T3 groups. The feed intake was similar across all the treatment groups. The final body weight increased with the supplemented muga pupa diet in T2 and T3 in comparison to the control diet. A striking increasing trend was observed in the average daily growth (g/d) of the grower pigs with 146.11±32.49 in T3 and 127.44±6.61 in T2 group in comparison to the control T1 (125.11±31.14). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was found to be economically impressive in T3 (2.87:1) and T2 (3.16:1) compared to T1 (3.45:1). This ultimately effected the feed cost/ kg gain, which was found to be encouragingly reduced by Rs 8 and Rs 16 at 2% and 4% in the muga pupa fed diet compared to the control diet. On the other hand, haematological parameters showed a rising trend in the RBC and haemoglobin count in the pupa fed meal compared to the control. This shows that the muga pupa diet has enhanced the digestibility of the grower pigs leading to their increased body weight and growth gain, thus lowering their FCR. The study unveiled that dried muga pupa powder can be supplemented @ 2% and 4% level by replacing soybean diet in grower pigs for better weight gain, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, feed conversion efficiency and lower feed cost production.