Physiological response of weaned pigs fed Spondias mombin supplemented diets in humid tropics. (Special Issue: Covid-19 and climate change.)

Alaba, O.; Ogunwumiju, B.; Odu, O.; Lawal, T. T.

Heat stress is a situation in which the animal body has problems dissipating excess heat due to breakdown in maintaining homeostatic body core temperature which resulting to inadequate heat dissipation and discomfort. In this study, Spondias mombin leaf meal (SMLM) rich in ascorbic acid was supplemented in feed aimed at determining effect on selected physiological responses of growing pigs. Sixteen growing female pigs weighing 10.5 to 14.0 kg were randomly allotted to four treatment supplemented maize feed ingredient with 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5% SMLM w/w in a completely randomized design with four animals and two replicates per treatment as shown in table1. Results confirmed diurnal variation in temperature-humidity index THI (morning and evening). This variation affects respiratory rate, animal thermal stability and heartbeat rate. There was positive and strong relationship in ameliorating temperature changes in housing environment as animals cope better in diet supplemented with SMLM than control. Respiratory rates were similar across all treatments both morning and evening measurements. However, from table 2, there was significant difference (p<0.05) between control and other treatments with T2 and T3 been similar. Highest values of heart rates were observed in T3 indicating some contribution to involuntary physiological actives in pigs which may be effect of some biocomponents of Spondias sp to cerebella actions in animal brain controlling such involuntary muscle activities. Supplementation of SMLM up to 5% maize in growing female pigs diet have potential to confer thermal stability on animals during high temperature periods notable in humid tropics.