Abstract

Sixteen crossbred growing pigs Duroc x Landrace, (10 weeks of age; initial body weight 27 #xB1; 3.92 kg) were allotted into four treatments in a randomized block design to evaluate the effects of inclusion of fermented kepok banana corm (FKBC) in the diet on the nutrient digestibility and mineral ca and p retention of growing pigs. There were four treatments diets offered: basal diets without FKBC (R0); basal diets + 7% FKBC (R1); basal diets + 14% FKBC (R2); basal diets + 21% FKBC (R3). Results of the study showed that inclusion of 21% FKBC in the diet of pigs significantly reduced (P lt;0.01) dry matter intake and organic matter compared to the control diet. There were no significant difference between 14% and 21% FKBC on the intake and digestibility of dry matter and organic matter of the pigs. However, inclusion of FKBC at the level of 7% showed the optimum digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and energy with the average value of 66.57%, 70.48%, 83.43% and 70.76%, respectively. In addition, mineral consumption and retention of Ca and P were 14.30 and 9.10 g/day, respectively with the value of mineral retention both Ca and P were 11.90 and 7.50 g/day, respectively. It can be concluded that inclusion of FKBC at the level of 7% increased dry matter digestibility and organic matter.