NUTRIENT AND PHYTOCHEMICAL IMPLICATION OF DRY GUINEA HEN WEED (PETIVERIA ALLIACEA) AS GROWTH PROMOTER IN GROWING PIG DIET

In a 10-week experiment to determine the phytogenic effect of supplementing growing pig diets with dry Guinea Hen Weed (GHW), thirty-six unsexed (Large white x Landrace) pigs were randomly assigned to four Diets where GHW was supplemented at 0, 0.5. 0.75 and 1.0%. The pigs were placed nine per treatment with each treatment having three replicates of three pigs each. Dried leaves of the GHW was analyzed for its nutrient and phytogenic composition before incorporation into the diets and the compounded ration was equally analyzed. Feed and cool clean water were offered the pigs ad-libitum during the period of the trial. Growth performance characteristics of the pigs were measured weekly and the average were taken. The result showed that the phytogenic components of the dry leaf of GHW were seldom higher than those earlier reported in the leaf extract. It also revealed that dry GHW led to a reduced feed intake in the pigs when compared to the control. Better feed conversion ratio was observed in pigs fed the diet supplemented with 0.5% GHW. Similarly, highest weight gain was observed therein. The research concluded that pig’s diet can be supplemented with 0.5% GHW for optimum performance and thus recommended.