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Growth, haematology and serum biochemistry of pigs fed diets containing different levels of crude fibre with or without a probiotic

*Cosmas C. Ogbu1, Ndubuisi S. Machebe2, Anthony E. Okafor2 and Marvin A. Egom2

1College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria; 2Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

 
Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the effects of levels of crude fibre (CF), with and without a probiotic (PB) - Saccharomyces cerevisiae – on the growth, haematology, and serum biochemistry of weaner pigs. Forty-eight (48) 11 week (wk) old F1 Large White (LW) x Landrace (LR) (LW x LR) crossbred weaner pigs of mean weight 10 kg were used for the study which lasted for 11 wk. The study was a 2 x 4 factorial involving 8 treatments (T1-T8) and 3 replications/treatment (6 piglets/treatment, and 2 piglets/replicate) namely: T1: 5% CF + 0.00g PB; T2: 10% CF + 0.00g PB; T3: 5% CF + 0.50g PB; T4: 10% CF + 0.50g PB; T5: 5% CF + 0.75g PB; T6: 10% CF + 0.75g PB; T7: 5% CF + 1.00g PB, and T8: 10% CF + 1.00gPB/kg. Two isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets having two CF levels (5 or 10%) were formulated for the experiment. The probiotic was added to the feeds after compounding. Results showed significant (P<0.05) effect of treatment on growth, linear body parameters, and serum biochemical indices of the pigs but not on the haematological indices. It was concluded that the combination of 5 or 10% CF with 0.75gPB/kg diet was found the best to enhance the growth of crossbred weaner pigs. However, some of the blood and serum biochemistry values of the pigs were suboptimal.

Keywords: Crossbred pig; fibre; palm kernel cake; probiotic; Saccharomyces  cerevisiae
 
To cite this article: Ogbu CC, NS Machebe, AE Okafor and MA Egom, 2014. Growth, haematology and serum biochemistry of pigs fed diets containing different levels of crude fibre with or without a probiotic. Res. Opin. Anim. Vet. Sci., 4(9): 512-521.

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