Novel Phytogenics’ Impact on Weaned Pigs’ Growth Performance, Heamatology and Serum Biochemical Indicators

Abstract

This experiment was carried out to investigate a novel phytogenics’ (PCCPR) an acronym for (peppermint, celery, coriander, parsley and rosemary leaf meal mixture) impact on weaned pigs’ performance, heamato-biochemical indicators. A total of forty cross bred weaned male pigs (Large white × Landrace) with an initial body weight of 7.33 ± 0.38 weaned at 28 days of age were individually housed in an open sided pen were randomly divided into four treatment group of six pigs each. Basal diet were adequate in all nutrients (NRC, 2012). The animals were fed as follows; basal diet with antibiotics (neomycin – 1.5 g/kg) in treatment one, treatment two, three and four were fed basal diet supplemented with PCCPR at 5 g, 10 g and 15 g/kg respectively. The experiment lasted for two months and all necessary management practices were observed. Average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake were similar in diet three and four compared to the other groups (P˂0.05). Dietary supplementation of PCCPR resulted in a numerical increase in pack cell volume, haemoglobin and red blood cell, white blood cell and its differentials (monocytes, eosinophils, basophils and leucocytes) and a remarkable improvement in mean corpuscular volume mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations. All the serum biochemical parameters were significantly affected by the treatments (P˂0.05). However, all values were within the normal physiological range for healthy pigs. It was concluded that the use of PCCPR up to 15 g/kg could boost swine productivity at weaned stage without causing any negative impact on the health status of animals.