Haematology of weaner pigs fed enzyme supplemented palm kernel cake (PKC).

Abstract

The continuous increase in the cost of livestock products such as meat, milk, egg in developing countries has continued to make these products unaffordable to consumers especially the vulnerable groups in rural and semi-urban centers and even low-income earners in sub-Saharan Africa. The results of this development include malnutrition, hunger, sicknesses, poverty food insecurity and unsustainable economic growth among others. The main reason for the high cost of livestock products being the high cost of production mostly due to high cost of feeding especially in monogastric animal production. Africa and especially Nigeria is blessed with enormous agricultural and other resources, which are capable of solving the problems of hunger, food insecurity and other economic problems if these resources are properly, and efficiently utilized.Research and investigations on how to reduce the high cost of feed especially in monogastric animal production has been severally reported (Iyayi , 2005, Ezieshi , 2004,Ezieshi and Olomu, 2006, Akpodiete 1999,Oruseibio, 1985. However, majority of these studies were carried out on poultry. In recent years some poultry Nutritionists has explored the possibility of replacing maize partially or wholly with cassava root meal (