A survey of the reproductive performance of smallholder piggeries fed different feeds in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

This study evaluated the reproductive performance of smallholder piggeries fed different feed formulations in Makurdi metropolis. The proximate analysis of the feeds used was conducted and a total of 100 farms were surveyed. The gestation period of sows on commercial feed (114.61±0.50 days), commercial mixed with compounded (111.42±14.37 days) and compounded (113.32±2.87 days) were not affected (p>0.05). The number of services per pregnancy in sows on commercial feed (1.29 0.47), commercial mixed with compounded (2.06 7.80), and compounded (2.05 7.80) were also not different (p>0.05). Litter size was significantly lower (p<0.05) in sows on commercial feed (15.68±3.67) than those on compounded mixed with commercial (17.43±2.69) and compounded (21.49±5.75). Piglet mortality was significantly higher (p<0.05) in sows on compounded feed (7.64±2.24) than in those on compounded mixed with commercial (4.54±1.26) and commercial (1.91±0.89). The abortion rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in sows fed on compounded feed (7.50±1.02) than those on commercial mixed with compounded (5.83±1.26) and commercial (1.40±0.98); stillbirth was also higher (p<0.05) in sows on compounded feed (10.21±4.76) than commercial mixed with compounded (5.48±1.49) and commercial (0.96±0.81). Sows on compounded feed had a higher incidence of uterine prolapse (6.49±1.97), than those on commercial mixed with compounded feed (2.11±1.25) and commercial feed (1.06±0.78). Retained placenta was lower in sows fed on commercial feed (1.46±0.97) than those on commercial mixed with compounded feed (4.95±1.96) and compounded feed (4.79±2.21). In conclusion, sows on compounded feed had good litter sizes than those on commercial and commercial mixed with compounded feed.  It also, recorded the highest reproductive problems, followed by those on commercial mixed with compounded feed.