Optimum inclusion levels of Leucaena leucocephala pasture leaf-meal on growth, haematology and physiological performance of growing pigs

• Published in: Tropical animal health and production Vol. 53; no. 1; p. 116
• Main Authors: Anyanwu, Georges Akalefu, Okoro, Victor Mela Obinna, Mbajiorgu, Christian Anayochukwu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.12.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Diameters; Diet - veterinary; Electroconvulsive therapy; Epithelial cells; Epithelium; Fabaceae; Female; Hematology; Leaves; Leucaena; Leucaena leucocephala; Life Sciences; Male; Optimization; Parameters; Pasture; Physiology; Radioactive wastes; Regression analysis; Regression coefficients; Regression models; Regular Articles; Swine; Thyroid; Thyroid gland; Variance analysis; Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science; Weight Gain; Zoology; Haematology; Thyroid cells; Growth rate; Feed efficiency; Epithelial cells; Leaf-meal
• ISSN: 0049-4747; 1573-7438
• DOI: 10.1007/s11250-021-02565-x

This study was conducted to evaluate the optimum inclusion levels of Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal on growth, haematology, and physiological performance of pigs. A total of 16 grower pigs comprising of 12 females and 4 castrated males weighing an average of 13.5 kg were assigned into a completely randomized experimental layout, subjected to 4 inclusion levels of leaf meal (0, 50, 100, and 150 g/kg DM). Regression model and one-way ANOVA model were used to analyse the data. The total feed intake (TFI) and average weekly feed intake (AWFI) were significantly affected quadratically ( P  < 0.05) by increased inclusion levels, while tubular diameter (TD) and epithelial cell thickness (ECT) of the thyroid gland were not significantly ( P  > 0.05) affected quadratically. However, a significant difference due to inclusion levels on TD and ECT was established due to one-way ANOVA. Optimal inclusion levels of 70.5 g/kg for TFI and 70.0 g/kg for AWFI were significantly established with 99% regression coefficient. This implies that the quantity of Leucaena leaf meal intake continued increasing up to 70.50 g/kg inclusion levels before it started reducing; hence, the optimal inclusion levels of Leucaena for best feed intake is at 70.5 g/kg at which point all other parameters of growth, haematology, and physiological parameters were not significantly affected.