Growth Response and Cost Benefits of Growing Pigs to Different Herbal-Mix Feed Additives

Abstract

This study was carried out with the aim of investigating growth performance and cost benefits of growing pigs on different herbal-mix feed additives. Twenty Seven, 8 weeks old Large White breed of pigs with an average body weight of 15.33 ± 0.2 kg was randomly assigned to three treatments (control diet, diets containing Moringa-Basil and Neem-Basil Leaf Meals mixtures) with each treatment consisting of three replicates of three pigs each. The Moringa-Basil and Neem-Basil leaf meals mixtures were in the ratio of 10 to 2; that is ten percent (10%) Moringa or Neem to two percent (2%) Basil. Data collected were subjected to one-way analysis of variance. Pigs on control diet had the highest final weight (49. 44, 43.22, 40.67 kg) and daily weight gain (515.87, 401.59, 388.89 g/pig) and the best feed conversion ratio (3.56, 4.59, 4.23) when compared to the values documented for pigs on ration containing different herbal-mix feed additives. The least total feed cost and revenue per pig were noted for pigs on Neem-Basil dietary treatment while the highest values were documented for pigs on control ration. It can be concluded from this study that performance indices of growing pigs were affected by the dietary inclusion of herbal-mix feed additives. Hence, it can be integrated into growers ration in order to lower production cost.