Abonyi F.O., Ogoenyi E.E., Eze J.I., Machebe N.S.
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Department of Animal Health and Production, University of Nigeria, Nsukk, Nigeria; Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Abonyi, F.O., University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria, Department of Animal Health and Production, University of Nigeria, Nsukk, Nigeria; Ogoenyi, E.E., University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Eze, J.I., University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Machebe, N.S., University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria, Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Landrace x Duroc crossbred intact male pigs (n=24) weighing between 11.05 to 11.35kg and aged 7.5 to 8.0 weeks were assigned to four treatments groups (A, B, C and D) by a complete randomized design. A common grower diet was supplemented with ZnO at 100 (A,control), 1000 (B), 1500 (C) and 2000mg/kg (D), and fed to the animals ad libitum for 10 weeks.Their feed intake, weight gainand feed: gain, packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), total white blood cell (TWBC),differential white blood cell (DWBC) and insulin profile were determined. There were no significant(p> 0.05) differences indailyfeed intake,feed: gain and in most haematological parameters investigated.Lymphocyte count was significantly (P < 0.05) higher amongthe groups fed high ZnO supplemented diet. A dose dependent increase in insulin profile was observed. Growth performancewas best at inclusion rate of 1000mg/kg of ZnO. © 2015, Agricultural Research Communication Centre. All rights reserved.