Growth performance, carcass characteristics and fatty acid composition of finishing pigs fed on graded levels of Vachellia tortilis leaf meal

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine growth performance, carcass characteristics and fatty acid composition of pigs fed on graded levels of Vachellia tortilis leaf meal (VTLM) diets. Forty-eight male Large White × Landrace finishing pigs with a mean (±standard deviation) body weight of 63.6 ± 0.73 kg (mean ± SD) aged 14 weeks were used. Pigs were allocated to individual pens in a completely randomized design and were assigned to six experimental diets containing 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 g/kg dry matter of VTLM. Each diet was offered ad libitum with fresh water to eight pigs in individual pens. There was a linear increase (P< 0.05) in ADFI and a linear decrease (P<0.05) in ADG and G: F with increase inclusion levels of VTLM. There was a quadratic response (P < 0.05) in intramuscular fat with increasing levels of VTLM. The inclusion of VTLM linearly (P < 0.05) decreased slaughter weight, warm carcass weight, cold carcass weight, cooler shrink and back-fat thickness. Total saturated fatty acids (TSFA) and total n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) decreased linearly (P <0.001) with increasing levels of VTLM. There was a quadratic increase (P <0.001) in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), total PUFA and total n-3 PUFA with increase inclusion of VTLM diet. The inclusion of VTLM reduced the total SFA and total n-6 PUFA while increasing the proportion of total MUFA and n-3 PUFA of pork. The optimum MUFA and total n-3 fatty were obtained at approximately 70 g/kg DM of V. tortilis leaf meal inclusion level.