EFFECT OF CITRIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF LARGE WHITE YORKSHIRE PIGS
2022
A. Bharathidhasan | Rita Narayanan | B.S.M. Ronald
An experiment was conducted to study the effect of citric acid supplementation on growth performance of weaned LWY pigs up to market weight at 205 days. Thirty LWY weaned pigs were selected, divided randomly into five experimental groups and fed with five iso-nitrogenous and iso-calorie ad libitum diets, that contained citric acid at 0, 0.5 %, 1 % and 1.5 % and 2 % of feed. Feed intake was measured daily and body weight was recorded at fortnight intervals. The Escherichia coli count of excreta was estimated for all the weaned pigs for initial, middle and end of the experimental period. The weight gain was significantly (p<0.01) increased by 2.61, 4.59 and 4.74 % at 1 %, 1.5 % and 2 % citric acid supplemented groups than control. The feed intake decreased (p<0.05) and feed conversion efficiency improved (p<0.01) in citric acid supplemented groups as compared to control. Best feed efficiency was observed in 1.5 and 2 % citric acid supplemented groups. The Escherichia coli count in feces was significantly (p<0.01) decreased in citric acid supplemented groups than control and best results were observed in 1.5 and 2 % citric acid supplemented groups. It was concluded that the minimum level of citric acid supplementation at 1.5 % improved the growth performance and cost effectiveness to the maximum extent with lower faecal E. coli count in LWY pigs.
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