Effect of inclusion of Azolla pinnata on the haematological and carcass characteristics of crossbred large white yorkshire pigs

Aim: To study the haematological and carcass parameters of pigs fed with Azolla based rations. Materials and Methods: An experiment was done for 120 days using 18 crossbred Large White Yorkshire pigs fed with diets containing Azolla as protein replacement at 0, 10 and 20 percent, respectively. The mean haematological parameters of the three experimental groups were studied before start of an experiment, and during the grower phase and finisher phase. Two pigs from each group were slaughtered after 120 days of experimental feeding to study the carcass parameters. Results: Haematological parameters like PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC were studied and found that there were no significant (P > 0.05) differences between means of the three groups except for MCV and MCH during growing phase. There was no significant difference among the pigs fed different rations for the various carcass characteristics. A higher dressing percentage was observed in T3 pigs (83.45 percent) followed by T2 pigs (81.37 percent) and T1 pigs (81.18 percent). It was noticed that there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the means of fat percentage and it was observed that fat percentage was higher in T1 (2.11) followed by T2 (2.04) and T3 (1.27). Conclusion: Sun dried Azolla inclusion upto 20 percent in the diets did not appear to affect the haematological and carcass parameters of pigs. Further it was observed that, inclusion of Azolla in the diets of swine helped to obtain higher dressing percentage and pork with less fat percentage when compared to that of pigs fed with conventional concentrates.


Introduction
iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese and also appreciable quantities of vitamin The increased trend towards urbanization and A precursor beta carotene and vitamin B [3,4]. It is 12 improved purchasing power has a prodigious effect on also found to contain probiotics and biopolymers [5]. the people's food habits and making them opt for In an experiment it was concluded that the PCV, RBC, nutritionally rich foods, such as animal source foods Hb and WBC values were similar and within the [1]. This trend is creating a huge demand for foods of normal range for the growing pullets fed with 0, 5, 10 animal origin among the quality conscious middle and 15 percent Azolla meal based diets [6]. In a study income group of India. Meat and meat products not on lambs it was reported that the average values of only provide nutrients but also ensures food security dressing percentage in lambs on live basis were 50.40, [2]. Pork is comparatively cheap source of animal 59.63 and 58.51 in 0, 10 and 20 percent azolla protein of high biological value. The other animal incorporated diet fed groups, respectively and stated source foods such as goat, beef and chicken alone that incorporation of Azolla in weaner lambs ration had cannot meet the protein requirements of the growing no adverse effects in carcass traits [7]. population. The fast growing pig may be one of the best But very little information is available about the choices to meet the nutritional demands of increasing use of dried Azolla in pig diets. Hence, this study was human population. Maintaining and increasing the planned to determine the effect of incorporation of demand for pork mainly depends on the quality of the dried Azolla as a protein replacer on the haematoproduct which is largely affected by the feed that is fed logical and carcass characteristics of crossbred Large to meat animals.
White Yorkshire pigs. Pigs are fed with conventional cereal grains and hence, there is a need to explore alternate nutritive feed

Materials and Methods
resources which are locally available. Water fern Ethical approval: The experiment was performed after Azolla appears to be a potential source of nutrients and the permission of Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. has a considerably high feeding value as it contains almost all essential amino acids and minerals such as Animals: A feeding trial was carried out by utilizing 18 crossbred Large White Yorkshire (LWY) pigs for a period of 120 days (60 days grower period + next 60 days finisher period) at the Department of Livestock Production Management, N.T.R College of Veterinary After the study completion at 120 days, two pigs Science, Gannavaram. The pigs were randomly from each group were identified for carcass trait divided into three experimental groups (T1, T2 and T3) analysis and shifted to the Department of Livestock with six pigs in each group such that the group average Production Technology (LPT). Identified pigs were weights were uniform.
fasted for 24 hours then slaughtered as per the standard Three grower rations G1 (conventional), G2 and slaughter procedure of USDA [9] for carcass analysis G3 (test rations) and similarly three finisher rations F1 at the Department of LPT. After evisceration, the (conventional), F2 and F3 (test rations) were prepared carcasses were cleaned thoroughly with running tap and fed to animals. Sun dried Azolla was incorporated water and the water was allowed to drain by hanging as a protein replacement at 10 percent in G2 (900 grams the carcasses. The eviscerated carcass was split (g) of conventional concentrate ration + 76.5 g of dried longitudinally ( Fig.1) through the vertebrae midline Azolla), F2 (900 g of conventional concentrate ration + and hot carcass (including feet and head) weight was 68.3 g of dried Azolla) and 20 percent levels in G3 (800 recorded. Carcass length ( Fig.2) was measured from g of conventional concentrate ration + 153 g of dried the forward edge of the first rib to the forward edge of Azolla), F3 (800 g of conventional concentrate ration + the aitch bone using measuring tape. The back fat depth 136.6 g of dried Azolla). The rations were fortified with was recorded at the tenth rib which was used to obtain vitamin and mineral supplements. Feed was offered ad estimated average back fat thickness. The dressing libitum. The concentrate ration and the required percentage was calculated from hot carcass with intact quantity of Azolla to be fed were weighed by using the head and feet on. Loin eye area at the tenth rib was electronic weighing balance with 150.00 kg capacity traced on transparent sheet. The traced area was (Make: Settra, Accuracy: 0.01g) and were mixed measured on a graph paper and expressed in square thoroughly before offering to each group.
centimeters. Weights of edible and inedible offals were Haematological studies were carried out by recorded and quantity of meat, bone and fat was collecting blood from experimental animals at the weighed to estimate the percentage. beginning of an experiment, at the end of grower phase Statistical analysis: The data were analyzed by using and finally after the finisher phase as per the standard standard statistical procedure [10], two-way ANOVA collection procedure [8] as approved by advisory to arrive at the conclusions. committee and Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University.

Results
Pigs were restrained properly on the floor and about 3 ml of blood was collected aseptically from each pig Haematological parameters at the initial stage: The through ear vein by using 6 ml syringe with 22 gauge mean haematological parameters of the three sterile needle and was done during early morning experimental groups were studied initially before the hours. The blood was immediately transferred into start of an experiment and are presented in Table- (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb), Red blood cell (RBC), The mean haematological parameters of the three White blood cell (WBC), Mean corpuscular haemoglobin grower groups and finisher groups are shown in Table-  significant difference between the means. PCV and Hb 30.5 cm and then T2 with 28.25 cm but with no values of F1, F2 and F3 rations fed groups also showed significant difference between the means (P > 0.05). no significant differences between means of the three The mean back fat thickness of pigs from T1, T2 and T3 groups (P > 0.05). Mean and SE of RBC count of F1, F2 groups was 2.00, 1.94 and 1.88 centimeter (cm), 6 6 and F3 were 4.0 ± 0.21 X 10 per µl, 3.73 ± 0.17 X 10 respectively with no significant differences between 6 means. It was noticed that there was a significant per µl and 3.53 ± 0.09 X 10 per µl and found to be difference between the means of fat percentage and lower than the normal values but the differences observed that fat percentage was higher in T1 (2.11) between the means were non-significant (P > 0.05). It followed by T2 (2.04) and T3 (1.27). The percentage of was seen that the WBC count in pigs fed with F1, F2 meat and bone was 82.07 and 15.18 in T1, 82.20 and and F3 rations showed no significant difference 15.00 in T2 and 81.81 and 15.81 in T3 with no between the means. significant difference between the means. Carcass characteristics: Two pigs from each group The weight of edible offal in T1, T2 and T3 was were slaughtered after 120 days of experimental 2.79, 2.53 and 2.04 kg respectively. It was observed feeding as mentioned earlier. There was no significant that inedible offal weighed 9.88, 9.81 and 10.32 in T1, difference among the pigs fed with different rations for T2 and T3 respectively. But the differences observed the various carcass characteristics such as carcass between the means were non-significant. weight, dressing percentage and carcass length.

Discussion
Though the differences were non-significant, the carcass weight of pigs from T1, T2 and T3 groups were Haematological parameters: Blood represents an 50.75, 53.5 and 55.5 kilogram (kg), respectively. A important index of physiological, pathological and higher dressing percentage was noticed in T3 pigs nutritional status of the organism. The haematological (83.45 percent) followed by T2 pigs (81.37 percent) values recorded at different intervals i.e, at the and T1 pigs (81.18 percent). The carcass length was beginning, during and at the end of an experiment for more in pigs from group T3 (73.5 cm), followed by T2 all the treatment groups are presented in Table-1, (71.5 cm) and T1 (69.5 cm). Table-2 and Table-3 respectively. Loin eye area was found to be higher in T3 with The values obtained at three different stages of 2 33.76 square centimeter (cm ) followed by T1 with the experiment viz., initial, during and final were more  or less nearer to the reference values mentioned by Jain the pig diets did not appear to affect the haematological [11]. Moreover, there was no significant (P > 0.05) and carcass parameters of pigs. Further it was observed difference between the PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC and that, inclusion of Azolla in the diets of swine helped to MCHC mean values. Similar observations were obtain higher dressing percentage and pork with less reported by Alalade et al. [6] where layer birds fed with fat percentage, compared to that of pigs fed with ration containing 0, 5, 10 and 15 percent Azolla meal conventional concentrates. It is inferred that the showed no significant difference between the mean incorporation of sun dried Azolla had beneficial effects values of PCV, Hb, RBC and WBC. Further, in the on the carcass characteristics of crossbred Large White present study it was observed that the MCV and MCH Yorkshire pigs. means showed significant difference among the three Authors' contributions groups during grower phase only. The haematological CDM carried out the experiment, analysis and also values obtained in the present study were in close initiated the preparation of manuscript, RMVP agreement with the haematological values of grower provided valuable scientific suggestions, guidance to pigs fed on low and high fiber diet obtained by Alu et al. carry out the research and corrected the manuscript, [12]. It could be concluded that the crude fiber intake SJR participated in scientific discussion and provided had no effect on the haematological parameters in pigs. support during the conduct of experiment, PJ guided to The analysis of initial and final haematological carry out the statistical analysis and also contributed in values further confirmed that the blood values were writing the manuscript and BER provided permission similar in all the three groups with no significant and guided to study the carcass parameters during the difference between the means. Thus, it could be slaughter of pigs in Department of LPT. All authors concluded that inclusion of Azolla in pig diets had no read and approved the final manuscript. influence on the haematological parameters of crossbred Large White Yorkshire pigs.