Effect of Home-made Cooked Feed vs. Balanced Feed on Growth Performance and Benefit-Cost Ratio of Ghungroo and Large White Yorkshire Piglets Reared under Intensive System in Sundarban Area of West Bengal, India

Aims: The present study was carried out to analyze the growth performance and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of Ghungroo and Large White Yorkshire (LWY) piglets reared under intensive housing by providing home-made cooked feeds and balanced feed.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted for a period of four months in Sundarban area of West Bengal, India.

Methodology: A total of 12 (six males and six females) piglets of each grower weaned Ghungroo and LWY piglets were randomly selected. For control group, commercially available grower pig ration were offered and for treatment group, locally available cooked feeds were offered. The body weight (kg) measurements of both the groups were taken every month from 2 to 6 months of age. Benefit-cost ratio (BCR) was calculated.

Results: The body weights obtained in groups fed with locally available cooked feeds and that of balanced ration are significantly different (P<0.05) to each other. The body weight of both Ghungroo and Large White Yorkshire (LWY) piglets in treatment group was significantly (P<0.05) less than that of the control group from 3 to 6 months of age. LWY piglets had significantly (P˂0.05) higher body weight than Ghungroo piglets in both control and treatment groups. The BCR of LWY pigs was more when compared to that of Ghungroo pigs in both control and treatment groups. It was also observed that BCR for both Ghungroo and LWY piglets was more in control groups in comparison with treatment groups.

Conclusion: Thus, it can be concluded that attainment of feasible body weight was not possible by only feeding locally available cooked feeds to Ghungroo and LWY piglets and so, piglets should be offered balanced ration for a profitable pig farming.