Title: Effect of Chromolaena odorata Leaf Diet Supplement on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Carcass Traits of Piglets.
Authors: Iwegbu, A., Moseri H Moemeke, A.M. and Gbayisomore, O.S
Volume: 10
Issue: 5
Pages: 1-9
Publication Date: 2026/05/28
Abstract:
To determine the effect of Chromolaena odorata leaf meal supplement on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass indices of piglets, an 8-week research was conducted. Ingredient for the experiment was formulated to supplement the pigs' diets in the ratios of; 000g, 250g, 300g and 350g/kg diet while other ingredients were constant across treatments. Thirty-two breeds of Landrace and Large White piglets of an average weight of 20.84kg were used. Piglets were allocated to four treatments using completely random design. Each diet had eight piglets in four replicates of two piglets. Performance on meat yield depicts that average final and average live weights were affected significantly (P<0.05) while weekly gain, total feed intake, weekly feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by the treatment diets. Dry matter, crude protein, ash and nitrogen free extracts were significantly (P<0.05) affected while ether extracts did not show significant (P>0.05) difference. Some carcass traits (dressing %; bled, dehaired and eviscerated weights) assayed depicted (P<0.05) differences across treatments. It could be deduced from this research that the feed ingredient could improve growth performance, digestibility and some carcass of growing pigs. This could largely reduce the over reliance on conventional feedstuff by pig farmers.