ABSTRACT
This study which lasted for 12 weeks investigated the effects of garlic and
probiotics additives in the diets of grower pigs. A total of sixteen 16 weeks
old grower pigs were randomly assigned to four treatments. Each treatment had 2
replicates of 2 pigs per replicate that were housed in a previously cleaned and
disinfected pen measuring 3.2m x2.7m with concrete floor, feeding trough and
water drinker. Four treatment diets (T1, T2, T3, and T4) were used in a 2x2
factorial arrangement in a Completely Randomized Design. T1 contained 0g garlic
and 0g probiotics in a 50kg basal diet. T2 contained 50g of probiotics in a
50kg basal diet. T3 had 50g of garlic in a 50kg basal diet while T4 had 50g of
garlic and 50g of probiotics in a 50kg basal diet. Pigs were fed 4% of their
average body weight per pen and water was provided ad libitum, while other
management principles were observed. The initial body weight (1BWkg), height at
withers (HWcm), chest girth (CGcm), body flank (BFcm) and body length (BLcm)
were measured and recorded at the beginning of the experiment and subsequently
measured bi-weekly till the end of the experiment. At the end of the
experiment, 2 pigs were randomly selected from each treatment for carcass,
serum and hematological investigation. Blood samples were collected through the
retro-bulbar plexus of the medial canthus of the eye of the pigs using syringes
and needles and placed in micro tubes with Ethylene diamine tetracetic acid
(EDTA) as anti-coagulant. The economic implication of the study was also
calculated. Data obtained were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance
(ANOVA) using SPSS. Significantly different means were separated using Duncan’s
New Multiple Range Test. Results obtained indicated that there were statistical
differences (P<0.05) in the performance characteristic, linear body
measurements, and carcass and organ characteristics. Result on serum
biochemistry showed no significant differences (P>0.05) in ALT, AST, TCRE,
and Urea among the treatment groups while there were significant differences
(P<0.05) in ALP and BIL in T1 but similar in T2, T3 and T4 (P>0.05).
Result on serum cholesterol showed significant differences (P<0.05)
in HDL which was similar in T1, T3 and T4. TRIG and VLDL values were also
significantly difference (P<0.05) with T1 and T3 being similar but higher
than values for T2 and T4 which are themselves similar (P>0.05). LDL values
were similar (P>0.05) in T1, T3 and T4 but higher (P<0.05) than T2. Feed
cost per kg gain was highly significant (P<0.05) in T1 (220.22±17.61), but
similar (P>0.05) in T2 (159.52±10.19), T3 (167.93±13.31) and T4
(151.10±10.94). There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the total
white blood cell TWBC with T2 (16.33±1.83), and T3 (16.35±0.45) having
comparable means values, while still being highest and lowest in T4
(20.20±0.15) and T1 (12.43±1.63) respectively. However, there were non
significant differences (P<0.05) observed in the packed cell volume PCV, red
blood count RBC and hemoglobin concentration HbC.
It is concluded that feeding garlic or probiotics to growing pigs
results in better performance, serum chemistry and economics of production.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 GENERAL
In developing economy, like
Nigeria, emphases are placed more on quality, wholesome as well as affordable
animal protein for the growing population. The per capita intake of protein,
that of animal protein in particular, of the growing population of Nigeria
remains very low. This situation is worsening, because other sources of cheap
animal protein such as wild animals and other microlivestock such as snails,
rats, and grass cutter, etc. are being depleted as a result of deforestation,
bush fires, and indiscriminate and uncontrolled hunting (Abeke et al.,
2009).
In Nigeria as in most developing countries, it has been
realized that the development of pig industry is one of the fastest means of
bridging the prevailing protein deficiency gap which has developed over the
years due to the increasing population. This is undermined by the inadequate
supply of their products due, largely, to high cost and inadequate feeding and
nutrition, poor breeding stock, and poor management practices involving; proper
housing, disease prevention and control.
Aduku (1992) opined that 70 –
90 percent (%) of the cost of production of eggs, chickens, pork, and rabbits
have been attributed to feed input. However, the availability of cheap and
balanced feed is a key to abundant animal protein production. This is because,
feed indicates how many animals a farmer can grow and how fast they can mature
for the market.
Pigs, like other non- ruminants
compete with man for feed. This is because both categories of consumers depend
on the same source for food which supplies are already inadequate. Therefore,
in an effort to increase animal protein source, pig production
Recent concerns regarding the
use of antibiotics as growth stimulating agent in animal production and their
residual effects on the part of the consumers has demanded for alternative
strategies to improve animal production and health without need for
antibiotics. Studies, in recent years, have shown that lactic acid bacteria
including Bacillus spp. are widely used as probiotics in
humans, and their use has reportedly led to health
benefits against gastrointestinal disorder; including diarrhea, inflammatory
bowel disease, lactose intolerance, and infections (Madson, 2001). Although
various Bacillus spp.
are widely used as probiotics for human and animals, their mechanism of action
is not yet fully understood (Hong et al.,
2005).
Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO, 2005) defined probiotics as a live microorganism
administered in adequate amount which confers a beneficial health effect on the
host. Ezema (2007) defined probiotics as life culture of microbes often lactic
acid bacteria but also other species such as saccharomyces which are fed to
animals to improve their health and growth by altering intestinal microbial
balance.
Also, searching for hypolipidemic agent in
predominantly vegetation human diet has yielded considerable information concerning
the effects of plant materials on cholesterol metabolism in animal models.
Garlic (Allium sativum),
which has been used as spice and folk medicine since antiquity, has been
considered to be beneficial to animal health as the allicin, the bioactive
substance of garlic has antibacterial, anti parasitic and antifungal
activities. The magnitude of this action varies from 14% lowering of serum...
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