Enhancement of rubber kernel and cashew nut cakes in the diet of postweaning and growing pigs

Abstract

The enhancement of detoxified cakes of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) kernels (HC) and of cakes of downgraded cashew (Anacardium occidentale) nuts (AC) in pig feed was studied in crossbred pigs from 28 days (weaning) to 180 days. These animals, divided at weaning into five lots, received either a control diet (CD) or one of four experimental diets containing 7.5% or 15% HC (HC7.5 and HC15) or AC (AC7.5 and AC15). The average daily weight gain was 246 ± 26, 198 ± 41, 191 ± 31, 154 ± 20 and 153 ± 31 g.j-1 from 29 to 89 days old, and 511 ± 84, 456 ± 74, 463 ± 140, 460 ± 53 and 504 ± 48 g.j-1 from 90 to 180 days old, with HC7.5, HC15, AC7.5, AC15 and CD, respectively. Live weights at 180 days were 74 ± 6, 71 ± 10, 65 ± 12, 61 ± 5 and 65 ± 5 kg with the same diets, respectively. The results suggest that HC and AC can be incorporated at 15% in the diet without adverse effect in postweaning and growing local pigs in a tropical environment. In addition, the use of these cakes in the diet of pigs would enable Côte d’Ivoire to reduce its dependence on imported raw materials such as soybean meals.