MUSARPOMS GRADE

This study investigated the growth performance of weaner pigs fed diets in which yellow maize was partially replaced with a novel feed ingredient, designated 75% MUSARPOMS Grade, at inclusion levels of 0%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%. MUSARPOMS is an unconventional feed resource composed of 75% ground dried ripe plantain peels and 25% palm oil mill slurry. The ten-week feeding trial, including a two-week adaptation period on the control diet, aimed to evaluate the potential of this feed as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternative for swine production by utilizing locally available agro-industrial by- products. A total of twenty-five weaner pigs, with initial body weights ranging from 13.30 to 14.40 kg, were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments, with each treatment replicated five times in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Pigs were offered the experimental diets and water ad libitum throughout the study. Initial body weights were statistically similar across treatments, confirming uniformity of experimental animals at the onset of the trial. While final body weights and overall feed intake were not significantly affected by the dietary treatments, parameters such as total weight gain, average weekly weight gain, average daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and feed efficiency demonstrated significant responses to maize replacement levels. The highest growth performance and feed utilization efficiency were observed in pigs receiving the control diet. Among the MUSARPOMS-based diets, the 50% maize replacement level yielded growth and feed efficiency values most comparable to the control, whereas higher inclusion levels (60%) resulted in reduced performance and poorer feed utilization. These findings indicate that 75% MUSARPOMS Grade can replace up to 50% of maize in weaner pig diets without substantially compromising growth, offering a viable, cost-reducing