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In ternationa l
Scholars
Journa ls

 

African Journal of Pig Farming ISSN: 2375-0731 Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2023. Available online at 
www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals 

 

Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. 

 

 
Full Length Research Paper 

 
 

 

The response of pigs to diets containing varying levels 
of cocoa placenta meal (CPM) supplemented with an 

exogenous enzyme complex 

 
John Dafaar Damsere1*, Michael Boateng1, Kwame Owusu Amoah2, Yaw Oppong Frimpong3 

and Daniel Boye Okai1 
 

1
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah 

University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi-Ghana. 
2
Animal Research Institute, Council for Scientific and 

Industrial Research, Accra, Ghana. 
3
Department of Animal Production and Health, School of Agriculture and 

Technology, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana. 

 
Accepted 23 October, 2022  

 
A nineteen-week experiment was conducted to establish the effects of an enzyme supplementation on 
growth performance, economics of production, carcass components and blood profile of pigs fed diets 
containing different levels of cocoa placenta meal (CPM). Twenty-five Large White grower pigs with 
mean initial live weight of 15.4 kg were randomly allocated to five treatments: T1 (0% CPM), T2 (5% 
CPM), T3 (10% CPM), T4 (15% CPM) and T5 (20% CPM) in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). 
Diet T1 had no enzyme but diets T2, T3, T4 and T5 contained 35 g enzyme per 100 kg feed. Each 
treatment had five pigs and each pig served as a replicate. Feed and water were provided ad-libitum. 
Pigs were slaughtered upon the attainment of a live weight of 70 ± 2.5 kg for carcass studies. Blood 
samples were collected during slaughtering. Feed cost (€ per kg) was inversely proportional to the 
inclusion level of the CPM + enzyme. Pigs on the T1 and T2 diets utilized their feed more efficiently (p < 
0.05) than those on the T3, T4 and T5. However, no differences (p > 0.05) were observed in the 
variations of the feed cost per kg gain values recorded. The CPM + enzyme inclusion resulted in 
decreased values (p < 0.05) for backfat thickness. There were no dietary (p ˃ 0.05) effects on the blood 
profile. Dietary inclusion levels up to 20% CPM + enzyme can be fed to growing-finishing pigs without 
any detrimental effects on most of the growth performance and carcass criteria. 

 
Key words: Agro-industrial by-product, blood profile, carcass, growth performance.  

 

 
INTRODUCTION 

 
Much consideration has been drawn to the use of cheaper 

and less demanded alternatives such as Agro-Industrial by-

products and non-conventional feed resources (NCFRs) in 

the feeding of livestock (Obirikorang  

 
 
 
 

 
et al., 2015) as a result of high cost of conventional feed 
ingredients. Agro-industrial by-products such as dried 
brewers spent grains (DBSG), cocoa pod husk (CPH), 
rice bran, and other NCFRs have been evaluated in  
  

*Corresponding author. E-mail: damseredafaarja@yahoo.com. Tel: +233 242817710. 
 

Author(s) agree that this article remain permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 

License 4.0 International License 



2 

 

 
 
 

 

Ghana as potential feed ingredients for non-ruminant 
farm animals (Atuahene et al., 2000; Donkoh et al., 2013; 
Nortey et al., 2015). Moreover, some research done on 
these products have proved that their use in animals’ 
diets often reduce feed cost (Okai, 1998). Yet, there are 
other prospective by-products which have not been 
adequately studied. One of such is the cocoa placenta, a 
by-product of cocoa bean production.  

Cocoa placenta is the slender, fibrous, rope-like tissue 
which holds the seeds (beans) in position inside the 
cocoa pod and also supplies nutrients to the cocoa seeds 
during the developmental stage of the cocoa fruit. The 
cocoa placenta accounts for about 3% of the cocoa fruit 
(Atiemo, 2015), which on the average weighs 400 g and 
therefore a large quantity is produced during the 
fermentation process of the cocoa beans but are 
eventually removed and discarded haphazardly during 
sun drying of the fermented beans. Atiemo (2015) 
reported that 30,966 metric tons of cocoa placenta is 
produced annually in Ghana. This can be a nuisance as it 
invites a lot of houseflies, blocks drain and also pollutes 
water bodies via run off when scattered around the cocoa 
drying sites in the communities.  

One major challenge apart from the presence of 
theobromine in cocoa by-products is the high crude fibre 
content or non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). Choct 
(2004) indicated that NSP are poorly digested by 
monogastric animals such as pigs because they do not 
produce enzymes that are capable of digesting these 
fibre components. According to Bedford (2000), 
exogenous enzymes can be used to address the 
problems of some anti-nutritional factors and high fibre 
levels that limit feed value, thereby leading to a more 
economic and efficient utilization of AIBP. This enzyme 
complex intended to increase the bioavailability of 
carbohydrates, proteins and fats in the diets of pigs and 
poultry. It has been suggested that it improves 
digestibility of feed ingredients and FCR. There is a 
dearth of information on its usefulness in monogastric 
diets in Ghana. Therefore, the objective of this study was 
to determine the growth performance, carcass traits and 
blood profile of grower-finisher pigs fed diets containing 
varying levels of CPM (0-20%) supplemented with an 
enzyme complex. 
 

 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
 
Study location and duration of the experiment 
 
The study’s location was the Livestock Section of the Department of 
Animal Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and 
Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. The feeding trial lasted for 
19 weeks. 
 
 
Source and processing of feed ingredients 
 
The wet cocoa placenta (WCP) were gathered from cocoa farmers 

 
 

  
 
 

 
inKukuom in the Asunafo South District of the Ahafo Region and 
were sun dried on a raffia palm mat on a platform for 5-8 days, 
depending on the intensity of the sunshine and the humidity. The 
dried cocoa placenta (DCP) was ground in a hammer mill to 
produce Cocoa Placenta Meal (CPM) whilst the other ingredients 
were obtained from Rakeb Company Limited, Kumasi. Those that 
required grinding e.g. maize, were handled in the same way as the 
DCP 
 

 
Proximate composition of CPM 
 
Proximate analysis of the CPM was carried out using standard 
procedures outlined by the Association of Official Analytical 
Chemists (AOAC, 2002). The nutrient compositions of other 
ingredients were obtained from the NRC (1998). 

 

Experimental animals, diets and design 
 
Twenty-five Large White grower pigs (15 entire males and 10 gilts) 
with an overall mean initial live weight of 15.4 kg were selected and 
randomly allotted to five isonitrogenous (17.0% CP) dietary 
treatments (Table 1) that is, 0% CPM, 5% CPM, 10% CPM, 15% 
CPM and 20% CPM replacing equal amounts of maize. 
Adjustments of the wheat bran and soya bean meal levels were 
made to obtain the crude protein (CP) level desired and all diets 
contained the same level of fishmeal (5%). The allocations of the 
pigs were based on sex and live weight in a Randomised Complete 
Block Design. Each treatment had three boars and two gilts and 
each pig represented a replicate. A kg of the exogenous enzyme 
complex contains- Cellulase, 100,000,000 U; Xylanase DS: 
5,000,000 U; Beta-glucanase: 70,000 U; Amylase: 300,000 U; 
Pectinase: 70,000 U; Phytase: 1,450,000 IU; Protease: 3,000,000 
U; Lipase: 10,000 U; Arabinase, Alpha galactosidase and 
Hemicellulase. 

 

Management of pigs 
 
Prior to the commencement of the experiment, all the pigs were 
tagged and treated with Tectin (Ivermectin) Inj. They were housed 
in a scrubbed and disinfected welded mesh, individual concrete-
floored cages (that is, 160×66×104 cm), constructed within an 
aluminium-roofed building. Each cage was provided with a 
43×12×10 cm concrete water trough. Shallow feeding troughs 
measuring 46×23×13 cm were used during the first two weeks and 
they were replaced with deeper and heavier troughs measuring 
54×24×27 cm (depth of 11cm at the feeding end) from the third 
week onwards. Feed and water were provided without restriction 
throughout the study period. 

 

Parameters measured 
 
Growth performance and economics of production 
 
Weekly feed intake and weight gain were measured and used to 
calculate the daily feed intake, daily weight gain and feed 
conversion ratio (FCR). Total feed intake and weight gain were 
alsocalculated. Cost per kg of each diet was computed by using the 
open market prices to estimate the cost of all ingredients used in 
the study. The cost of collecting, transporting and processing of 
CPM were estimated and added to the cost of the CPM diets. 
Inaddition, the cost of the inclusion (¢/kg) of enzyme was added to 
the CPM diets. Feed cost per kg gain for each diet was obtained by 
multiplying the cost per kg feed by the FCR. 



3 

 

 
 
 

 
Table 1. Composition (%) of the experimental diets. 

 

 Ingredients (%) 0% CPM 5% CPM
+
 10% CPM

+
 15% CPM

+
 20% CPM

+
 

 CPM 0 5 10 15 20 

 Maize 60 55 50 45 40 

 Soya bean meal 15.5 13.8 12.1 10.5 8.7 

 Wheat bran 18.5 20.2 21.9 23.5 25.3 

 Fishmeal 5 5 5 5 5 

 Dicalcium phosphate 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 

 Vit-min. premix
#
 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 

 Common salt 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 

 Oyster shells 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 

 Total 100 100 100 100 100 

 Calculated composition      
 (%)      

 CP 17.0 17.0 17.1 17.0 17.0 

 CF 3.68 4.48 5.28 6.07 6.87 

 DE (MJ/kg) 15.9 15.5 15.1 14.7 14.3 

 Calcium 0.51 0.52 0.54 0.57 0.56 

 Phosphorus 0.74 0.73 0.87 0.92 0.98 
 

+ The enzyme was added at the rate of 35 g/100 kg to each of the CPM diets.#Vit-min. premix per 100 kg diet: Vitamin A 
(8×105U.I); Vitamin D3 (1.5×104U.I); Vitamin E (250 mg); Vitamin K (100 mg); Vitamin B2 (2×102 mg); Vitamin B12 (0.5 mg); 
Folic acid (50 mg); Nicotinic acid (8x102 mg); Calcium panthotenate (200 mg); Choline (5×103 mg). Trace elements: Mg (5×103 
mg); Zn (4×103 mg); Cu (4.5×102 mg); Co (10 mg); I (100 mg); Se (10 mg). Antioxidants: Butylatedhydroxytoluene (1×103 mg). 
Carrier: Calcium carbonate q.s.p (0.25 kg). 

 

 
Carcass and internal organs measurement 
 
Four animals (two males and two females) from each dietary 
treatment were slaughtered for carcass evaluation, upon attaining 
the targeted weight of 70 ± 2.5 kg after the weekly weighing. 
Carcass parameters considered on the day of slaughter were; 
dressed weight, dressing percentage and weights of viscera, 
respiratory tract, full GIT, empty GIT, empty stomach, liver, spleen, 
heart, kidneys, trotters and head. After chilling the carcasses at 5°C 
overnight, the parameters measured were: Chilled dressed weight, 

carcass length, meanback fat thickness, P2, loin eye area and 

weights of leaf fat, fillet, belly, loin, shoulder and thigh. An 8cm-
length of the ileum, obtained between the caecum and the small 
intestine was taken for histological processing and microscopic 
observations for the villi count, height, width and villi area using the 
standard procedures outlined by Baker and Silverton (1976). 
 
 
Haematological and serum biochemical studies 
 
Two samples of blood were taken from each pig using heparinized 
vacutainer (Venoject, lithium heparin, Terumo Europe, Leuven, 
Belgium) and sterilized micro tubes.The first sample from each pig 
was subsequentlyanalysed for haematological parameters whilst 
the serum obtained from the other sample was used for biochemical 
studies (Tiezt,1995). 

 

In vitrodigestion 
 
An in vitro trial was conducted on the test ingredient (raw CPM) and 

the five diets (that is, 0% CPM, 5% CMP
+
, 10% CPM

+
, 15% CPM

+
 

and 20% CPM
+
) to mimic the digestion process in the pig so as to 

ascertain the effect of the enzyme. Parameters measured were 
sugar levels and the viscosities of the diets. 

 
 

 
Statistical analysis 
 
All data collected were subjected to the analysis of variance 
procedure of the GenStat Statistical Package Version 11.1 (2009) 
and differences were deemed significant at p ˂ 0.05. 

 
Ethical statement 
 
Protocols used were in this study were approved by the Animal 
Ethics Committee of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and 
Technology, Kumasi. 

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
 
Nutrient composition of the dried cocoa placenta 
(CPM) 
 
Proximate composition of CPM (Table 2) showed 
highervalues for most components than that reported 
byBoatenget al. (2016) except the NFE and ME values. 
Boatenget al. (2016) reported NFE and ME values of 
63.17% and 3006.91 (kcal/kg) respectively on as-fed 
basis. Torres-Morenoet al. (2015) attributed variations of 
proximate values of cocoa beans and African LocustBean 
Pulp (ALBP) to varietal differences, geographicallocation, 
type of soils, maturity of fruit at harvest, method used in 
drying, processing and duration of storage period. The 
cocoa placenta used by Boatenget al. (2016) was 
obtained from the Plantations Section of the Department 
of Crop and Soil Sciences, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.  

The  CP value of the CPM  obtained  in  this  study is 



4 

 

  
 
 

 
Table 2. Proximate composition of the dried cocoa placenta meal (CPM).  

 
Proximate composition (%) As-fed (%) Dry matter (%) 

Moisture 14.3 - 

CP 16.0 18.6 

CF 19.0 22.1 

EE 3.02 3.52 

Ash 9.98 11.6 

NFE 37.8 44.1 

ME (MJ/kg)
β
 9.04 10.5 

 
β
Metabolizable energy was calculated using Pauzenga (1985) equation (that is, ME 

= 37×%CP+81.8×%EE+35×%NFE) 
 

 

higher than the levels of CP in most of the conventional 
energy feed ingredients such as maize (8.3%) which is 
usually used in the diets of pigs in Ghana. It is worth 
mentioning that, except cocoa bean meal (23.2% CP), 
the CPM (Table 2) contained more CP than cocoa pod 
husk (8.4%) and cocoa bean shell (16.7%) in percentage 
dry matter terms (European Food Safety Authority, 2008). 
The CF value of 19.0% for the CPM is higher than the CF 
values of most agro-industrial by-products (AIBPs) 
reported by Rhule (2015) {that is, cassava peel (13.7 ± 
0.23%), cocoa expeller cake (8.57 ± 0.22%), coconut 
chaff (13.8 ± 1.86%), copra cake (13.9 ± 0.65%), 
pineapple waste (14.7 ± 2.89%), pito mash (12.4 ± 
2.84%) and brewer’s spent grains (16.1 ± 1.29%)}. 
Therefore, the inclusion of the enzyme was to help 
degrade the high fibre in the CPM diets in order to 
release the nutrients that were bound in the fibre to the 
pigs. As a result of the fibrous nature of most AIBP, 
several research studies using fibre-degrading 
exogenous enzymes have been undertaken in Ghana 
(Alemaworet al., 2009;Nortey et al., 2015). 

 

Growth performance of pigs 
 
There were no differences (p = 0.77) in the average daily 
feed intake among the different dietary treatments 

although the 20% CPM
+
 diet recorded the least value. 

There was a trend of decreasing daily weight gain (p = 
0.02) with increasing levels of the CPM. The 0% CPM 

and 20% CPM
+
 diets recorded the highest and lowest 

average daily weight gain (ADWG) value respectively. 
Boateng et al. (2016) obtained a divergent result of the 
ADWG (p ˃ 0.05) when rats were fed diets containing 

varying levels of CPM plus XZYME
TM

. The least ADFI 

and ADWG recorded by pigs on the 20% CPM
+
 diet had 

an impact on the duration or number of days spent to 
reach the slaughter weight of 70±2.5kg because pigs on 

the 20% CPM
+
diet spent noticeably (p = 0.04) more days 

(116 days) compared to those on the 0% CPM (84 days) 
(Table 3).  

Contrarily, Tengan et al. (2012) observed similar 
duration (p > 0.05) with varying levels of ALBP at the 

 
 

 

highest inclusion level (20%), where the pigs took 100 
days compared with 105 days (no ALBP) to reach the 
target weight. The FCR values obtained implied that pigs 
on 0% CPM diet utilized their feed more efficiently (p = 

0.001) than those on the 10, 15 and the 20% CPM
+
 diets 

although the FCR was similar to the 5% CPM
+
 diet. This 

study confirms the statement made by Whittemore et al. 
(2003), that feed efficiency is directly affected by growth 
rate and feed intake and in all cases of feeding high CF 
diets, feed conversion efficiency decreased, with the 
decreases being more pronounced in young pigs. The 
feed cost decreased with increasing level of dietary CPM 
inclusion even with the addition of the enzyme. This 
implied that, the feed cost (GH₵ per kg) was inversely 

proportional to the inclusion level of the CPM
+
 diets. 

However, there were no differences (p = 0.1) in the 
variations of the feed cost per kg gain values recorded 
among the dietary treatments and the variations did not 
follow any particular trend. 

 

Carcass characteristics 

 
All the absolute and relative fat parameters studied (that 

is,backfat thickness, P2 measurement and leaf fat) 
recorded substantial differences (p < 0.05) between the 

control diet (0% CPM) and the CPM
+
 diets except the 

mean back fat thickness which was similar (p > 0.05) 

withthe 5% CPM
+
 diet. The CPM

+
 inclusion in the diets 

resulted in decreased values of the fat parameters. For 

example, the P2 fat measurement was inversely 

proportional to the levels of CPM
+
 in the diets. It may 

beinferred that pigs fed the CPM
+
 diets converted their 

feed more into lean meat rather than fat deposits as a 
result oftheir high fibre levels but lower energy 
concentrations (Table 1). Amoah et al. (2017) observed a 
similar trend when they studied the performance of pigs 
at different phases of growth on sun-dried brewers spent 
grain (DBSG)-based diets. Specifically, the diets with high 
and low metabolizable energy values (that is, 25% DBSG 
and30% DBSG) recorded lower values for fat parameters 

(that is, back fat thickness, leaf fat and P2 measurement). 
There were dietary influences (p ˂ 0.05) 



5 

 

 
 
 

 
Table 3. Growth performance of the experimental pigs.  

 
 

Parameter (kg) 
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 

SEM p- value  

 
CPM CPM

+
 CPM

+
 CPM

+
 CPM

+
  

    
 

 Initial weight 15.5 15.3 15.4 15.6 15.4 0.05 1.00 
 

 Final weight 70.0 69.3 69.7 69.5 70.2 0.16 0.91 
 

 Duration of trial, days 84.0
c
 92.4

bc
 107

ab
 105

abc
 116

a
 5.66 0.04 

 

 Daily feed intake 1.87 1.72 1.75 1.72 1.64 0.04 0.77 
 

 Daily weight gain 0.65
a
 0.60

ab
 0.51

bc
 0.52

bc
 0.48

c
 0.03 0.02 

 

 Feed conversion ratio 2.87
bc

 2.84
c
 3.33

a
 3.34

a
 3.41

a
 0.12 0.001 

 

 Feed cost, € 0.26 0.24 0.23 0.22 0.20 0.01 - 
 

 Feed cost/kg gain, € 0.74 0.70 0.77 0.75 0.68 0.02 0.10 
 

 
a, b, c- Means on the same row bearing different superscripts are significantly different (p ˂ 0.05). 

 

 
Table 4. Absolute and relative carcass characteristics of the experimental pigs.  

 
 

Parameter 

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 

SEM 

p- 
 

 CPM CPM
+
 CPM

+
 CPM

+
 CPM

+
 value 

 

 Absolute (kg)        
 

 Warm carcass wt. 51.8 51.1 49.0 50.0 48.6 0.61 0.33 
 

 Chilled carcass wt. 44.4 43.2 41.6 41.7 40.7 0.66 0.09 
 

 Dressing percentage, % 73.9 73.8 70.9 71.8 69.6 0.83 0.15 
 

 Loin eye area, cm
2
 32.7 31.4 33.5 32.3 34.5 0.53 0.18 

 

 Mean backfat thickness, cm 2.58
a
 2.50

a
 1.58

b
 1.62

b
 1.50

b
 0.24 0.001 

 

 P2 measurement, cm 1.94
a
 1.66

b
 1.16

b
 0.72

c
 0.69

c
 0.25 0.003 

 

 Leaf fat 0.64
a
 0.47

b
 0.34

c
 0.33

c
 0.34

c
 0.06 0.002 

 

 Head 5.10 5.10 4.94 4.94 5.05 0.04 0.96 
 

 Trotters 0.96 1.04 1.07 1.07 1.08 0.02 0.46 
 

 Thigh 6.95 6.54 6.90 6.90 6.85 0.07 0.60 
 

 Loin 5.80 5.66 5.69 5.69 5.84 0.04 1.00 
 

 Fillet 0.41 0.41 0.41 0.41 0.40 0.002 1.00 
 

 Viscera 12.1
b
 12.2

b
 12.3

b
 12.3

b
 14.6

a
 0.48 0.02 

 

 Full GIT 8.56
b
 8.15

b
 8.50

b
 8.50

b
 11.3

a
 0.58 0.01 

 

 Empty GIT 2.94 3.17 2.84 2.84 3.04 0.06 0.40 
 

 Empty stomach 0.55
d
 0.67

b
 0.60

c
 0.60

b
 0.68

a
 0.02 0.001 

 

 Relative (%)        
 

 Leaf fat 0.91
a
 0.67

b
 0.49

c
 0.47

c
 0.49

c
 0.08 0.002 

 

 Head 7.27 7.37 7.16 7.09 7.23 0.05 0.96 
 

 Trotters 1.36 1.50 1.55 1.53 1.55 0.04 0.39 
 

 Thigh 9.91 9.45 10.0 9.93 9.80 0.10 0.59 
 

 Loin 8.25 8.17 8.23 8.18 8.36 0.03 1.00 
 

 Fillet 0.58 0.60 0.60 0.59 0.57 0.006 1.00 
 

 Viscera 17.2
b
 17.6

b
 17.8

b
 17.7

b
 20.8

a
 0.65 0.01 

 

 Full GIT 12.2
b
 11.8

b
 12.3

b
 12.2

b
 16.1

a
 0.80 0.01 

 

 Empty GIT 4.19 4.57 4.12 4.09 4.36 0.09 0.38 
 

 Empty stomach 0.78
c
 0.96

a
 0.87

b
 0.87

b
 0.97

a
 0.03 0.001 

 

 
a, b, c - Means on the same row bearing different superscripts are significantly different (p˂0.05). 

 

 

on the absolute and relative weights of viscera, full GIT 
and empty stomach of the experimental pigs. Pigs on the 

20% CPM
+
 dietary treatment obtained the highest 

absolute and relative viscera, full GIT and empty stomach 

 
 

 

weights compared to the rest of the dietary treatments. 
According to Jørgensenet al. (1996), pigs adapt to diets 
with increased fibre content by increasing gut volume and 
weight (Table 4). 



6 

 

  
 
 

 
Table 5. Villi parameters of the experimental pigs.  

 
 

Parameter 

0% 

5% CPM 

+ 10% 15% 20% 

SEM p-value 
 

 CPM  CPM
+
 CPM

+
 CPM

+
 

 

 Villi count, mm
2
 1190 1476  1512 1602 1602 75.8 0.27 

 

 Villi height, μm 1003 1237  1291 1362 1362 66.3 0.32 
 

 Villi width, μm 187 239  221 239 239 10.1 0.76 
 

 Villi area, μm
2
 586287 948108  940540 1017699 1056279 83717 0.42 

 

 

 
Table 6. Haematological and serum biochemical parameters of the experimental pigs.  

 

Parameter 

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 

SEM p-value 
 

CPM CPM
+
 CPM

+
 CPM

+
 CPM

+
 

 

Haematological assay*        
 

HCT, % 42.9 46.3 43.8 49.4 45.7 1.13 0.67 
 

HGB, g/dL 13.4 13.9 13.7 14.3 13.6 0.15 0.93 
 

RBC, 10
6
/mI 6.98 8.01 7.30 7.73 7.68 0.18 0.72 

 

LYM, 10
3
 /μI 12.8 12.6 12.9 10.9 11.9 0.37 0.95 

 

MCH, pg 19.2 17.6 18.7 18.6 17.8 0.30 0.25 
 

MCHC, g/dL 31.3 30.4 31.2 39.1 29.8 1.71 0.12 
 

MCV, μm
3
 61.4 57.9 60.0 63.9 59.7 1.00 0.25 

 

MON, 10
3
 /μI 2.90 0.51 0.43 0.33 0.60 0.49 0.58 

 

NEU, 10
3
 /mI 5.72 9.41 11.6 15.5 8.85 1.62 0.22 

 

PLT, 10
3
 /mI 234 278 203 247 301 17.1 0.73 

 

WBC, 10
3
/ m 19.7 24.3 25.8 27.6 22.4 1.37 0.43 

 

BAS, 10
3
 /Ml 0.24 0.23 0.33 0.19 0.13 0.03 0.24 

 

Serum biochemical assay        
 

Total cholesterol, mmol/L 2.28 2.21 2.34 2.12 2.52 0.07 0.23 
 

Globulin, g/l 31.1 35.2 33.1 35.5 36.2 0.94 0.65 
 

Total BIL, umol /L 2.90 2.90 2.90 2.58 2.86 0.06 0.69 
 

Total protein, g/Dl 64.4 71.9 67.9 70.4 65.3 1.44 0.68 
 

Triglycerides, mmol/L 0.69 0.54 0.83 0.67 0.84 0.06 0.42 
 

Albumin, g/L 33.2 36.8 36.9 34.9 33.4 0.80 0.88 
 

 
*HCT- Haematocrit, PCV- Packed Cell Volume, HGB- Haemoglobin, RBC- Red Blood Cell, LYM- Lymphocytes, MCH- Mean Cell 
Haemoglobin, MCHC- Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration, MCV- Mean Cell Volume, MON- Monocytes, NEU- Neutrophils, 
PLT- Platelets, WBC- White Blood Cell and BAS- Basophils. 

 

 

The 20% CPM
+
 diet had the highest crude fibre 

percentage (Table 1) and that could have accounted for 
the highest weights of the viscera, full GIT and empty 
stomach. Pigs that were fed a diet containing 30% 
distillers dried grains with solubles showed increased 
visceral organ mass relative to the control fed pigs 
(Agyekumet al., 2012). 

 

Some villi parameters 
 
Montagne et al. (2003) had reported that, an increase in 
villi to crypt ratio leads to an increase in surface area for 
greater digestion and absorption of available nutrients to 
occur. However, the villi count, height, width and surface 
area measurements showed no dietary effects (p ˃ 0.05) 

 
 

 

among the dietary treatments studied (Table 5). However, 
there were trends with the villi counts and heights; that is, 

as the inclusion rates of the CPM
+
 increased the mean 

values increased. 

 

Haematological and Serum Biochemical Studies 
 
There were no dietary effects (p ˃ 0.05) on all the 
haematological and serum biochemical parameters 
(Table 6) considered in the experiment. It is worth stating 
that, all the mean values obtained across the different 
dietary treatments fell within the physiological ranges for 
Large White pigs raised in Ghana as reported by Okai et 
al. (1995). It can be deduced that the haematological and 
serum biochemical values obtained attest to the fact that 



7 

 

 
 
 

 
Table 7. Total sugars and viscosity of raw CPM and the dietary treatments.  

 
 

Parameter Raw CPM 

0% 

5% CPM 

+ 10% 15% 20% 

SEM p-value 
 

 CPM  CPM
+
 CPM

+
 CPM

+
 

 

 Sugar, mg/L 5450
f
 13865

a
 10546

b
  9554

c
 9248

d
 9228

e
 1103 0.001 

 

 Viscosity, mm
2
/s 1.27

a
 1.09

d
 1.13

cd
  1.13

cd
 1.15

bc
 1.17

b
 0.03 0.001 

 

 
a, b, c, d e f- Means on a row with different superscripts are significantly different (p ˂ 0.05). 

 
 

 

CPM plus enzyme-an exogenous enzyme complex, had 
no adverse effects on the physiology of the experimental 
pigs. 
 

 

In vitro digestibility 

 
Dietary effects (p ˂ 0.05) were found in the mean values 
of the total sugar and viscosity measurements (Table 7). 
The total sugar decreased clearly (p ˂ 0.05) as the 

inclusion level of CPM
+
 increased. This trend could 

probably be attributed to the inability of the supplemented 
enzyme to satisfactorily degrade the cell structures of the 
CPM to release sugars (energy) bound in its cells 
(McDonald et al., 2010). It has been reported that soluble 
fibre increases digest a viscosity and thereby slowdown 
the diffusion of the substrate and enzymes in the porcine 
small intestine, which hampers nutrient digestion and 
absorption (Wenk, 2001). The highest viscosity values 

recorded by the 15 and 20% CPM
+
 diets (Table 7) could 

mean that the high crude fibre values recorded (Table 1) 
may contain some soluble fibre components which led to 
increase in the viscosity values. It could also mean that 
there were important (p ˂ 0.05) enzymatic degradation on 

soluble fibres of the CPM
+
 diets since the viscosity values 

seemed to have increased with an increasing in CPM 
inclusion. 
 

 

Conclusions 

 
The growth rate and daily weight gain parameters of 
growing-finishing pigs were substantially lowered when 
CPM-based diets at 10-20% inclusion levels plus enzyme 
were fed. However, feed cost per kg body weight gain, 
haematological parameters and serum profiles were not 

affected by the inclusion of CPM
+
 in the diets. All fat 

parameters considered were clearly lowered with the 
CPM-based diets containing 10-20%. In summary, the 

CPM
+
 diets were not only cheaper but also resulted in 

leaner carcasses though such pigs took considerably 
longer to reach the market weight. 
 

 

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS 

 

The authors have not declared any conflict of interests. 

 
 
 

 
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