
Performance and nutrients digestibility of young pigs
fed dietary raw and processed
Gmelina
arborea
fruits
Annongu1*,
A. A., Liebert2, F., Olawuyi3, E. I. O., and
Joseph1, J. K.
1*
Laboratories of Nutritional
Biochemistry and Physiology, Dept. of Animal and Poultry
Production,
University of Ilorin, Ilorin Nigeria, West Africa.
2
Institut fuer Tierphysiologie und
Tierernaehrung der Universitaet Goettingen, Kellnerweg 6,
D-37077 Goettingen, FRG.
3
Raw Materials Research & Development
Council, Kwara State Liaison Office, P. M. B. 1565, Ilorin.
Abstract
A
feeding trial to study the effects of dietary Gmelina arborea
fruit (GAF) meal on performance and nutrients digestibility of
young piglets, was conducted. 16 male piglets averaging 12.40 ±
0.55kg were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments
designated as 30% treated Gmelina arborea fruit based diet
(negative control diet 1) and three other diets containing 10,
20 and 30% raw Gmelina arborea fruit meal. Feeding and water
supply were given to appetite during a 42-day feeding
experiment. Significant difference was observed in body weight
gain (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in apparent
digestibility of dry matter, daily intake and metabolizable
energy (P < 0.05). Statistically significant differences were
recorded on nitrogen intake, faecal nitrogen excretion,
daily-retained nitrogen and the corresponding nitrogen retention
coefficient (P< 0.05). Both performance and digestibility
parameters were high and showed improvement on 30% treated or
diet containing low inclusion of raw GAF meal (10%). It was
concluded that Gmelina arborea fruits when processed or included
raw at low levels from 10% in diets has no adverse effects on
the performance and nutrients utilization in livestock.
Key words:
Gmelina arborea
fruits, piglets, performance, nutrients digestibility.