GROWTH PERFORMANCE, FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY OF GILTS AND PRE WINNING GROWTH RATE OF PIGLETS FROM SOWS FED DIETS CONTAINING GRADED LEVELS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF MEAL (MOLM)

The dietary effect of inclusion of Moringa oleiferaleaf meal (MOLM) on growth performance and mortality rate of piglets were investigated. A thirteen months feed trial experiment was carried out on twenty four (24) large white weaner pigs, twenty females and four males which were 10-11 weeks. The females were randomly grouped into five treatments and four replicates with each animal constituting a replicate in a randomized complete design. The four boars were used to cross the gilts when on heat. The control diet was (0%) MOLM, while treatment 2, 3, 4 and 5 were 5, 7.5, 10 and 12% MOLM, respectively. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in initial body weight, final body weight, total weight gain and daily growth rate of gilts. However, daily feed intake of pigs fed 5, 10 and 12% MOLM (1.05, 1.07 and 1.08 respectively) were significantly higher than those fed 7.5% MOLM (0.99). Similarly, total feed intake of pigs feed 7.5% MOLM were significantly lower (150.57) than those fed 12% MOLM (166.37). Feed conversion efficiency was significantly better for pigs fed 7.5% MOLM (0.26) than 12% MOLM (0.23).Piglet growth rate at 0% MOLM (0.12) and 5% (0.12) were significantly higher than those fed 10% MOLM (0.08).There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in piglet birth weight, weaning weight and mortality rate. In conclusion, up to 7.5 % MOLM could be included in the diets of gilt without any negative effect on total feed intake and daily feed intake. There may be no negative effect on feed conversion efficiency at 7.5% MOLM inclusion. Piglet growth rate may not be affected negatively at 5% MOLM inclusion.