NL Journal of Veterinary and Animal Nutrition

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Liver Function Indices of Weaned Pigs Reared on Concrete, Woodshaving and Clay Floors

Author(s) : Ogunbode Adesina Amao*, Abegunde Paul Taiwo, Ojelere Iyabo Mary.

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Abstract

Providing beddings are husbandry aspects intended to improve pig welfare, thus research was conducted to evaluate the liver function indices of weaned pigs reared on concrete, woodshaving and clay floors. Twenty-seven (27) crossbred (Largewhite X Landrace) weaned pigs aged eight weeks were used for the study. The pigs were randomly assigned to the three treatment group of nine animals per treatment and six pigs per replicate. The three treatments used were concrete (T1), Woodshaving (T2) and Clay (T3). The concrete floor was made from gravel, sand, granite and water while woodshaving was gotten in dried form from sawmills within Ibadan metropolis and pebbles, dirts, iron metals and broken bottles were removed and spread on cemented floor to make woodshaving floor. The clay floor was gotten from termite hill within the university premises and spread on cemented floor to make clay floor. 3ml of blood were collected from three (3) animals per treatment for the analysis of biochemical indices into plain bottles to determine the serum enzymes. The results revealed that there was significant (P0.05) difference. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and blood urea nitrogen was highest (52.33u/l, 42.00u/l and 20.17) respectively in the concrete floors than the mean value obtained in the bedded floors. Pigs reared on the concrete floor compared favourably for alkaline phosphate and creatinine. It was concluded that rearing pigs on bedded floors have no deleterious effects on hepatic functions. Keywords: Floors, Liver, Pigs, Serum.

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