Orororo, O. C. et al. NISEB Journal Vol. 14, No. 4, December, 2014 Printed in Nigeria 1595-6938/2014 (2014) Nigerian Society for Experimental Biology http://www.nisebjournal.org Effect of Supplementation of Animal Feed with Dried Cassava (Manihot esculenta) Peels, and Stems of Vernonia amygdalina and Pennisetum purpereum on Some Biochemical Parameters in Pigs Osuvwe Clement Orororo 1 , Nyerhovwo J. Tonukari 1,2 *, Oghenetega J. Avwioroko 1,2 and Theresa Ezedom 1,2 1 Department of Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. 2 African Research Laboratory, Otorho-Agbon, Delta State, Nigeria. Abstract This study examined the effects of pig feed supplementation with dried cassava peels, Vernonia amygdalina and Pennisetum purpereum stems, which are readily available, on pigs’ body weights and some biochemical parameters. Twelve large White x Dunroc weaner pigs with an average body weight of 5.85±0.70 kg were used for the study. The pigs were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups and were fed with formulated experimental diet twice daily for 21 days. In addition, pigs in groups 2, 3 and 4 received dried V. amygdalina stems, cassava peels, and P. purpureum stems ad libitum, respectively, as food supplement in the afternoon daily. At the end of the feeding trial, the animals were weighed and bled. Serum obtained from the blood samples was used for biochemical analysis. Pigs fed only the formulated diet had the lowest weight gain (0.47±0.29 kg) while those that received cassava peels as food supplement had the highest weight gain (1.67±0.82 kg). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in serum creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values in the pigs, but serum glucose, cholesterol, albumin, calcium, urea and urea nitrogen differed significantly (P<0.05) among the experimental groups. The results indicate that pig feed supplementation using dried cassava peels, V. amygdalina and P. purpereum stems can provide growing pigs with additional nutrients. They also show that pig feed supplementation with dried cassava peels, V. amygdalina stem and P. purpereum can increase the weight of growing pigs on the short term without any toxic effects to the liver and kidney. Key words: Pig feed, cassava (Manihot esculenta) peels, Vernonia amygdalina stem and Pennisetum purpereum purpereum. Introduction In recognition of the potential of pigs as a prolific and fast growing animal, as well as a good converter of feed to meat, many Nigerian farmers have embarked upon intensive production of pigs. This is an effort geared towards increasing animal protein supply 1 but the major constraint has been the high cost of feeding due to high cost and inconsistent availability of conventional energy and protein sources. This could be as high as 75-80% in the fattening herd and 60-65% in the breeding herd 2 . Thus, there is need for alternative feedstuffs. The alternative feedstuff, therefore, must be ingredients with less competition by other secondary industrial users and producers which are readily available in commercial quantities and affordable prices 1 . Also, pigs should be capable of converting these alternative feedstuffs (which will normally be discarded by humans) into wholesome animal protein 3 . Fibrous feed ingredients are abundant and cheap. It has been documented by several authors that dietary fibre has some beneficial effects in non-ruminant animals. Cassava (Manihot esculenta), leaves and tender stems are under-utilized in Nigeria because they are often left to rot away on farms and homesteads after harvesting the roots 4 . Cassava peels continue to constitute waste in the cassava processing industry. It accounts for 10 to 13% of the tuber by weight 5 . This is in spite of the potential of the by-product as an animal feedstuff 6 . Cassava peel meal has therefore been one feed ingredient that is consistently incorporated into the diets of pigs as alternative energy source 1,7,8 . Vernonia amygdalina, also known as bitter leaf is a tropical shrub. It belongs to the family Asteraceae. The plant is a widely used local plant in Nigeria for both therapeutic and nutritional purposes. It is the leaves that are used for cooking after thorough crushing and washing to remove most of the bitter taste, while the stems are often discarded. Bitter leaf grows in a wide range of ecological zones in Africa and produces large mass forage and is drought tolerant 9 . Its bitter taste is due to its anti-nutritional factors such as alkaloids, saponins, tannins and glycosides 10 . V. amygdalina Del. has been shown to contain significant quantities of lipids 11,12 , proteins 11,12,13,14 , carbohydrates 11 and fiber 11,12,14 . Various micro- and macro-nutrients have also been reported to be present in this plant 11,12,14 . Corresponding Author's Email: tonukari@gmail.com 177