EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF DRY GUINEA HEN WEED LEAF (PETIVERIA ALLIACEA) ON PERFORMANCEOF GROWING PIGS

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of supplementing growing pig diets with graded levels dry leaves of Guinea Hen Weed (GHW) (Petiveria alliacea). Thirty-six unsexed (Large white X Landrace) pigs of about 23-24kg body weight were randomly allotted on weight equalization basis into four dietary treatments. Each treatment has nine pigs and each treatment has three replicates of three pigs each. The pigs were fed for ten weeks with four formulated diets in which GHW was incorporated at 0, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0%. The growth performance parameters were measured after a week of stabilization and were statistically analyzed in a completely randomized design. The significant difference was separated using Duncan multiple range test at 99.5% level of significance. The result revealed an increased final weight, weekly weight, daily weight gain and better feed conversion ratio on the pigs fed with diet supplemented with 0.5% GHW. However, pigs fed the 0% GHW supplemented diet has the highest feed intake while the 0.75% and 1.0% GHW supplemented diets have the least feed consumption and lowest daily weight gain too. The experiment concluded the 0.5% Petiveria alliacea is the best level of Guinea hen weed leaf incorporation in grower pigs’ diet for optimum performance.