Abstract 306

Ravindran,-V; Kornegay,-ET; Notter,-DR; Rajaguru,-ASB

Animal Science Dep., Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.

Animal-Science-Research-Report,-Virginia-Agricultural-Experi ent-Station. 1984, No. 4, 92-96.

Inclusion of 13.3% cassava leaf meal (CLM) increased gains and feed conversion efficiency of growing pigs, effects attributed to a better balance of amino acids. Performance was similar between crossbred pigs, average initial weight 14.5 kg, given a basal diet of 40% coconut oilmeal and those given a diet with 26.7% CLM. However, performance was decreased when CLM totally replaced the coconut oilmeal. Nutrient digestibility and values for protein and energy utilization suggest that CLM has considerable potential as an ingredient of pig diets in the tropics.