Journal of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine

The discontinuous use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in swine production may have serious negative consequences on animals’ health and performance due to impaired immunological response to pathogenic microbes, especially in newly weaned pigs, warranting changes in nutritional and management strategies. Justicia secunda Leaf Meal (JLM), Scent Leaf Meal (SLM), and Bamboo Charcoal (BC) are additives that could modulate the microbiota of pigs, thereby enhancing animals’ health and performance. Therefore, the influence of JLM, SLM, and BC on growth, nutrient digestibility and faecal microbial shedding of pigs was assessed. Large White x Landrace male pigs (n=48), weighing 7.5±0.50kg, aged 6 weeks, were assigned to eight dietary treatments in a completely randomised design (r=3) for six weeks. Treatment 1 had No supplementation (control); while other treatments contained 3%JLM, 5%SLM, 1%BC, 3%JLM+1%BC, 5%SLM+1%BC, 3%JLM+5%SLM, and 3%JLM+5%SLM+1%BC, respectively. Growth performance indices were measured, and faecal samples were collected for nutrient digestibility, microbial load and volatile fatty acid concentration following standard procedures. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α_0.05. Significant (P<0.05) differences were observed in the average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio (G/F) of the pigs. Pigs fed control had lower ADG and G/F (191.7 g/day and 0.355) which were similar to those fed 3%JLM+1%BC (217.9 g/day and 0.407). Crude protein digestibility by pigs was improved by supplementation of 3%JLM (73.5%), 5%SLM (74.6%), and 1%BC (74.2%). Pigs fed 3%JLM had lower faecal Escherichia coli (4.15) which was similar to those of pigs fed 1%BC (4.81) and 3%JLM+5%SLM+1%BC (4.61). Similarly, pigs fed a 3%JLM diet had lower lactic acid (4.52 mmol/100g), and total volatile fatty acid (51.47 mmol/100g) concentrations compared with other treatment groups. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of Justicia secunda, scent leaf, and bamboo charcoal at 3%, 5%, and 1% inclusion levels, respectively, improved growth performance of weanling pigs. Supplementation of Justicia secunda at a 3% inclusion level improved crude protein digestibility and reduced faecal microbial shedding. Thus, it is recommended that Justicia secunda leaf meal should be supplemented in the diets of weanling pigs at a 3% inclusion level for enhanced gut health and growth performance.