Growth rate and carcass characteristics of pigs fed on diets containing palm kernel cake

Fifty-six Large White pigs were fed from 25 to 90 kg liveweight on diets containing palm kernel cake (PKC) at 0, 200, 300 and 400 g kg−1 inclusion levels. The average daily gains (ADG) in liveweight by the pigs during the grower phase were 0.47, 0.46, 0.39 and 0.40 kg on the 0, 200, 300 and 400 g kg−1 PKC diets. These were significantly (P < 0.05) different. The corresponding ADGs during the finisher phase were 0.45, 0.45, 0.46 and 0.42 kg. The differences were not statistically different. Feed conversion ratios were 3.84, 3.85, 4.32 and 4.50 kg feed kg−1 weight gain on the 0, 200, 300 and 400 g kg−1 PKC diets (grower phase) and 6.71, 6.21, 6.11 and 6.62 kg feed kg−1 weight gain (finisher phase). ng percentage was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced from 69.5 to 67.1 with increasing level of PKC in the diet. Back fat thickness was not significantly affected by level of PKC in the diet. Eye muscle area was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced from 43.3 cm2 to 33.9 cm2 with increasing level of PKC in the diet. Weights of joints and cuts, expressed as proportion of the carcass weight, showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease with the weight of the hand as PKC increased in the diet.