Performance and Meat Quality of Growing Pigs Fed Composite Leaf Meal Premix as an Alternative to Commercial Premix

This trial was designed to study the effects of using composite leaf meal produced from five (5) different leaves: Cassava, Moringa, fluted pumpkin, African basil and bitter leaves as a premix in the diets of growing pigs. Twenty four large white weaner-pigs were used for this trial comprising six treatments and four replicates with one pig per replicate. Six diets were formulated in which composite leaf meal was fed at 0 (2.5% premix), 10 (2.0% premix), 20 (1.5% premix), 30 (1.0% premix), 40 (0.5% premix) and 50 (0.0% premix) g/kg at the expense of a commercial premix and designated diets I, II, III, IV, V and VI. The pigs were then assigned to these 6 dietary treatments which were fed to the pigs at 5% of their body weight for 8 weeks experimental period. Water was supplied ad libitum throughout the experimental period. All data were subjected to analysis of variance. Results showed that, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the final weights of the pigs. Highest final live weight (41.67 ± 0.84 kg) and highest feed intake (75.92 ± 0.06) were recorded in animals fed diet II, while the lowest final live weight (37.67 ± 0.84kg) and lowest feed intake (75.57 ± 0.06) were recorded in animals fed diets V and I, respectively. The eye muscle width of carcass was significantly higher (P<0.05) in pigs fed composite leaf meal diets than those fed the control. The eviscerated weights (kg), head (kg), carcass length (cm) and the relative organs weight of liver, kidney, heart, lungs and spleen (g/kg body weight) were not significantly (P˃0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. The longest carcass length was recorded in animals fed diet VI (73.00 cm), while the shortest length was recorded in animals fed diet III (69.33 cm). For the pH of the meat samples, the highest value (5.77) was recorded in pigs fed diet VI, while the lowest pH (5.74) was recorded in pigs fed diet I. However, there was no significant (P˃0.05) treatment effect in the pH values. Generally, the cost of the experimental diets (₦/kg) was least in 50 g/kg composite leaf meal diet (₦55.44/kg) and highest in 0 g/kg composite leaf meal diet (₦60.43/kg) and the percentage cost reduction increased as the level of the composite leaf meal inclusion increased (1.44 – 8.26 %). It could be concluded within the limit of this study, that composite leaf meal had high nutrient potentials for pigs and could completely replace commercial premix in pig diets without any deleterious effect.