EFFECTS OF VITAMIN B COMPLEX ON FEED INTAKE, WEGHT GAIN AND GROWTH RATE IN WEANLING PIGS

1. EFFECTS OF VITAMIN B COMPLEX ON FEED INTAKE, WEGHT GAIN AND GROWTH RATE IN WEANLING PIGS BY DANIEL KAMPIYAU

2. INTRODUCTION • B vitamins are a group of water-soluble vitamins that play important roles in cellmetabolism • Vitamin B complex can be used to enhance appetite in pigs.

3. PROBLEM STATEMENT • Many smallholder farmers now into pig production but little technical knowhow on how they can shorten the period from weaning to marketing.

4. JUSTIFICATION • Vitamin B complex has the potential to increase appetite in piglets thereby improving feed intake, weight gain and growth rate of pigs.

5. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE • To evaluate the effects of vitamin B complex on feed intake, weight gain and growth rate in pigs.

6. HYPOTHESES • H1: Vitamin B complex has effect on feed intake, weight gain and growth rate in weanling pigs.

7. Statistical model Yiik = μ + Si + tj + eijk where: Yiik is the response variable, μ is the overall mean, Si is the block effect ti is the treatment effect eijk is the random residual.

8. MATERIALS AND METHOD • The experiment will be carried over a period of 25 days • Weaners’ blocking by sex • Treatments 0mls, 5ml, 7.5ml, 10ml and 15ml Vitamin B intramuscular injections • Feed intake measured every morning as a difference of feed supplied and feed left before new feed is introduced. • Weight gain will be measured twice a week on specific dates at the same time.

9. EXPECTED RESULTS • Piglets injected with Vitamin B complex will have a higher feed intake, weight gain and growth rate compared to those with no Vitamin B complex injection. • Male weanling pigs highest

10. Proposed Timeline

11. Budget