Abstract
Hexane-extracted calendula meal was tested in an acceptance trial with eighty 8–13 weeks old crossbred pigs to determine their response to diets containing 0, 2, 6, 10 or 20% calendula meal. Performance parameters included feed intake, daily growth and post mortem histopathological examination of vital organs. Pigs fed a diet containing 2% calendula meal consumed significantly more feed than the ones fed a calendula-free diet. As the calendula meal content of the diet increased, feed intake tended to decrease. Post mortem examination of vital organs showed statistically significant ( P < 0.10) between-treatment differences in heart, kidney, thyroid and pancreas size expressed as percentage of bodyweight. The results of blood and blood serum analyses for haematocrit, haemoglobin, oxygenated haemoglobin, aspartate-aminotransferase, alanine-aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine and zinc remained within the reference values for young pigs. Although calendula meal showed potential as a ration ingredient for young pigs it is advised not to include more than 10% of it in the diet.
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