Health-Related Response of Weaned Pigs to Cassava Tuber Meal’s Cyanide with Activated Charcoal Supplementation

Abstract

The health-related response of weaned pigs to cassava tuber meal’s cyanide with activated charcoal supplementation was evaluated. Large White x Landrace (n = 64, age = 8 weeks, x̄ = 9.45 ±0.30 kg, treatment = 8; 8 pigs per replicate), each pig was a replicate in a 2 × 4 arrangement of a completely randomized design. Two sets of four diets each were compounded to contain processed cassava tuber meal (CTM) at 0, 25, 50 and 75% replacement levels for maize while a group was supplemented with activated charcoal (AC) at 40 g/kg diet. Data were collected on blood parameters, organ weights and carcass indices after eight weeks. Weaner pigs fed 25% CTM had significantly (P < 0.05) higher values of 43.93%, 17.81 × 103/mm3 and 13.44 g/dl for PCV, WBC and Hb, respectively. However, CTM and ACS interaction showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher PCV (44.88%) and WBC (18.28 × 103 /mm3) at 25%. Diets with ACS significantly (P < 0.05) depressed the values of albumin, globulin, total protein, and ALP whereas supplementation with AC significantly increased (P < 0.05) AST, cholesterol and triglyceride values as CTM increased. Pigs fed 25% CTM with ACS had higher values (P < 0.05) for belly, ham, and loin. Increasing levels of CTM with and without ACS indicated (P < 0.05) resulted in higher values for organ weights except lungs. In conclusion, ACS in CTM diets at 25% is recommended to safeguard the health of weaned pigs especially for increased PCV, Hb, WBC, and reduced AST, ALT and ALP and liver.