Biochemical evaluation of Gmelina arborea fruit meal as a swine feedstuff

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of Gmelina
\narborea \t fruits (GAF) meal on haematology and certain
\nbiochemical parameters including blood enzyme profile of wean pigs.
\n16-piglets, 8-males and 8-females averaging 12.41 ± 0.59 kg live
\nweight from Hampshire commercial breed were allotted to four dietary
\ntreatment groups each consisting of four piglets per treatment group in
\na completely randomised design. The diets formulated on iso-nitrogenous
\nand iso-energetic basis had Diet 1 containing 30% processed GAF meal
\nand was taken as a reference Diet while Diets 2, 3 and 4 contained 10,
\n20 and 30% raw GAF meal respectively. The experimental diets and water
\nwere supplied to appetite in a feeding trial which lasted for 28 days.
\nThere were no statistically significant differences in haematological
\nparameters (p > 0.05) except lymphocytes and neutrophils of the
\nleucocytes differential count (p < 0.05). There were also no
\nsignificant differences in the selected blood enzymes and serum
\nbiochemical parameters of the trial animal models (p >0.05). Urine
\nanalyses similarly showed no significant difference in urea and
\ncreatinine excretions except that there was a significant difference in
\nuric acid produced (p < 0.05). An overall assessment of the study
\nindicated that values of some parameters measured tended to decrease
\n(in case of blood indices and serum constituents) and increase (with
\nregards to blood urea nitrogen, creatinine in blood and urine and uric
\nacids) though not significantly as the dietary inclusion level of raw
\nGAF meal increased. It was therefore concluded that GAF when processed
\nor incorporated at lower levels has no adverse effect on animals.