Cordyline fruticosa leaf powder supplemented in the diet of weaned pigs: effect on growth performance, heamatological and serum biochemical indices

Abstract

In Sumitra Research Institute, Gujarat, a total of 50 cross-bred male piglets (Yorkshire × Landrace) with an initial body weight of 9.77 ± 0.06 kg weaned at 28 days were randomly distributed 5 treatments of 10 replicates containing 1 animal each in 60 days’ trial. According to the Nutritional Research Council’s recommendation in 2012, a basal diet was adequate in all nutrients. Pigs in treatment 1 were fed a basal diet without C. fruticosa leaf powder while treatments 2, 3, 4, and 5 were fed the same diet supplemented with C. fruticosa leaf powder at 20 g, 40 g, 60 g, and 80 g respectively. Animals were given unrestricted access to fresh clean water and a completely randomized design was adopted. The experimental result showed that average daily weight gains and average daily feed intake which took the form of 0.29-0.46 kg and 0.68-0.77 kg were higher in the C. fruticosa leaf powder-supplemented group relative to the control (p < 0.05). The treatments significantly influenced the best feed conversion ratio and mortality rate from 1.73-2.34 to 1.0-3.0% (p < 0.05). Haemoglobin, red blood cell, pack cell volume, total platelet count, mean platelet volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell, lymphocytes, and monocytes count follow a similar trend as values were greater in treatment 3, 4 and 5, an intermediary in treatment 2 and lower in treatment 1 (p < 0.05). The treatment significantly influenced total protein, glucose, cholesterol, Calcium, and Phosphorus values (p < 0.05). In contrast, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, sodium, chloride, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase values were similar among the treatments (p > 0.05). In conclusion, Cordyline fruticosa leaf powder can be supplemented in the diet of weaned pigs without causing any negative effect on the growth and health status of weaned pigs.