The Effect of Dietary Protein (Groundnut Cake and Coconut Cake) on the Live Weight Gain, Spermiograms, Gonadal sperm Reserves and Fertility of Boars

The study investigated the effect of dietary protein (groundnut cake and coconut cake) on the live weight gain, spermiograms, gonadalsperm reserves and fertility of boars. The study was conducted at the Swine unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The university of Uyo was used in this study. It is located in the heart of Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. A total of 18 grower pigs of large white consisting of 15 boars and 3 sows were used for the study. The boars were randomly selected into 3 groups (Ti, T2 and T3)5 of five based on average initial weights (20-25kg) and were tagged appropriately while the sows were randomly placed in 3 group(S1, S2 and S3) of 1 in each group.  Three diets were made for the three treatment conditions. The boars in T1which is the control group were given normal maize fed, boars in T2 which is the first treatment condition were given groundnut cake diet while boars in T3 which is the second treatment condition were given coconut cake. These pigs were fed twice daily and water supplied adlibitium. Finally, the sow in S1 was artificially inseminated with the semen of the Boar in condtion group 1 (T1), S2 was artificially inseminated with the semen of treatment condition 2 (T2) while S3 was artificially inseminated with the semen of treatment condition 3 (T3). During the feeding trial, weekly feed consumption and weight changes were recorded, while weight gain, feed conversion. Result showed a significant difference on the live weight gain of boars between groups (P 0.05). It was concluded that dietary protein of groundnut cake and coconut cake could completely replace maize as they improve the live weight gain and sperms quality of boars. Implications and recommendations were made from the findings of the study.