Haematological indices of grower pigs fed low protein and low energy diets supplemented with multi-enzyme

Abstract

One of the reliable information for evaluating nutritional status, performance and physiological state of farm animals to nutrient utilization is through haematological indices assessment. Haematological parameters of grower pigs fed low crude protein and low energy diets supplemented with multi-enzyme (enziblend plus+) were determined using 36 hybrid (Landrace x Large white) male pigs of 8-10 weeks old. Two metabolizable energy (3000 and 2600 Kcal ME/kg) and three crude protein levels (18, 16 and 14 % CP) were used to formulate Six dietary treatments; T1 (3000 Kcal ME/Kg; 18 % CP), T2 (3000 Kcal ME/Kg; 16 % CP+ 1g of enzyme/kg diet), T3 (3000 Kcal ME/Kg; 14 % CP+ 1g of enzyme/kg diet), T4 (2600 Kcal ME/Kg; 18 % CP + 1g of enzyme/kg diet), T5 (2600 Kcal ME/Kg; 16 % CP + 1g of enzyme/kg diet) and T6 (2600 Kcal ME/Kg; 14 % CP + 1g of enzyme/kg diet). The treatments were replicated three with two pigs per replicate. The experiment was a 2 x 3 factorial, and T1 served as the control. Blood samples were collected (3mls) via the ear vein from one pig in each replicate, three from treatment for haematological analysis. The results of this study recorded significant differences (P<0.05) in most of the hematological parameters evaluated, except in mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and basophile counts of the pigs. Grower pigs fed T2 and T4 diets recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher packed cell volume (PCV) (40.15% and 40.22%), hemoglobin (12.25g/dl and 12.00g/dl), red blood cell (7.95 x10⁶ / µl and 8.00 x10⁶ / µl), white blood cell (8.12 x10³ / µl and 7.91 x10³ / µl) and lymphocyte counts (5.26 x10³ / µl and 5.00 x10³ / µl). Grower pigs on T6 recorded significantly (P <0.05) lower mean values for PCV (32.55%), hemoglobin concentration (Hb) (9.82g/dl), red blood cell (RBC) (5.32 x10³ / µl), white blood cell (WBC) (6.10 x10³ / µl), lymphocyte (3.10 x10³ / µl) and monocyte (0.31 x10³ / µl) counts, respectively. Based on the findings of this study, feeding of growing pigs with low energy and low crude protein diets below 16 % CP with multi-enzyme supplementation adversely effected PCV, hemoglobin, RBC, WBC, lymphocytes and monocytes of grower pigs and therefore should be avoided in pig production.