Balance of N in pigs fed with Moringa Oleifera foliage meal

Abstract

A double 3x3 Latin square was designed to study the balance of N in growing Mong Cai pigs with a live weight averaging 15 kg, fed with graded levels (0, 15 and 30% respectively in the diet, in dry basis) of moringa (Moringa oleifera) foliage meal. The foliage was composed of terminal branches (30 cm) including leaves and stems of moringa trees periodically cut within an integrated system of pig production, where the plants were periodically fertilized with effluents from biodigesters charged with pig excreta. Moringa foliage meal determined a slight trend (P<0.10) towards a reduction in some measured digestive indexes, particularly in DM and organic matter, but not in rectal digestibility of crude fiber and N (average of three treatments, 43.0 and 72.7% respectively). The N balance seemed to have a positive influence of the introduction of moringa foliage meal in the diet of pigs. Average value of N retention was 9.23 g/animal per day, and retention as percentage of intake was from 41.0 to 47.4% and as percentage of digestion, from 55.7 to 65.8% (in both cases, P<0.05). According to the herein showed data, moringa foliage meal may constitute an important ingredient in the diet of growing pigs, as a protein source for the animal.