Effects Of Garlic (Allium Sativum) And Probiotics (Lactobacillus Acidophilus) Additives In The Diets Of Grower Pigs.

ABSTRACT

This study which lasted for 12 weeks investigated the effects of garlic and probiotics additives in

the diets of grower pigs. A total of sixteen 16 weeks old grower pigs were randomly assigned to

four treatments. Each treatment had 2 replicates of 2 pigs per replicate that were housed in a

previously cleaned and disinfected pen measuring 3.2m x2.7m with concrete floor, feeding trough

and water drinker. Four treatment diets (T1, T2, T3, and T4) were used in a 2x2 factorial

arrangement in a Completely Randomized Design. T1 contained 0g garlic and 0g probiotics in a

50kg basal diet. T2 contained 50g of probiotics in a 50kg basal diet. T3 had 50g of garlic in a

50kg basal diet while T4 had 50g of garlic and 50g of probiotics in a 50kg basal diet. Pigs were

fed 4% of their average body weight per pen and water was provided ad libitum, while other

management principles were observed. The initial body weight (1BWkg), height at withers

(HWcm), chest girth (CGcm), body flank (BFcm) and body length (BLcm) were measured and

recorded at the beginning of the experiment and subsequently measured bi-weekly till the end of

the experiment. At the end of the experiment, 2 pigs were randomly selected from each treatment

for carcass, serum and hematological investigation. Blood samples were collected through the

retro-bulbar plexus of the medial canthus of the eye of the pigs using syringes and needles and

placed in micro tubes with Ethylene diamine tetracetic acid (EDTA) as anti-coagulant. The

economic implication of the study was also calculated. Data obtained were subjected to a oneway

analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS. Significantly different means were separated

using Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test. Results obtained indicated that there were statistical

differences (P0.05) in ALT, AST, TCRE, and Urea among the treatment groups while there were significant

differences (P0.05).

Result on serum cholesterol showed significant differences (P0.05) in T1, T3 and T4 but higher (P