Effect of fish meal supplementation on feeding economy of meghalaya local grower Pigs

Twelve Meghalaya local pigs (2 months, 7.21±0.90 kg b.wt.) of either sex, divided into two groups of 6 in each in a randomized block design, were fed on two types of grower rations containing 0 (T₀) and 3% (T₁) fish meal. The pigs were fed on the experimental grower rations twice daily. CP content in diets T₀ and T ₁ was 17.60±0.25 and 17.51±0.43%, and energy content (Kcal ME/kg) was 2914 and 2932, respectively. Average DM intake (346.67g/d) was similar in both groups. Digestibility of nutrients except that of CF was higher (P<0.05; P<0.01) in group T₁ than in group T₀. The average body weight gain (g/day) in groups T₁ (90.44±9.52) was, significantly higher (P<0.05) than in group T₀ (81.68±10.07). The feed conversion efficiency was also higher (P<0.05) in group T₁ (3.17±0.68) than in group T₀ (4.03±0.46). The cost of production per kg live weight (Rs.) in group T₁ (Rs.53.34±11.38), was significantly lower (p<0.05) in group T₀ (Rs.67.54±7.73). It was concluded that cost of feeding can be reduced by supplementation of fish meal in grower swine ration.