EFFECT OF VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID) SUPPLEMENTATION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, ECONOMIC INDICES, HAEMATOLOGY, SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTIC OF WEANER PIGS

Seven weeks old weaned pigs (Yorkshire x Landrace, n = 32, mean weight = 12.32 ± 0.59 kg) were allotted to 4 treatments (diets) consisting of 8 replicates each: diet A − basal diet; diet B − basal + ascorbic acid at 1 g.kg-1 diet; diet C − basal + ascorbic acid at 2 g.kg-1 diet; and diet D − basal + ascorbic acid at 3 g.kg-1 diet. Growth performance, economic indices, haematological parameters, serum biochemistry and carcass characteristics were measured. After 49 days, the pigs on diet with ascorbic acid at 2 g.kg-1 had significantly higher daily feed intake (1.54 kg per pig) (p < 0.05). The feed cost per kg increased significantly (p < 0.05) across the diets from the control (Nigerian naira, ₦ 97.60) to basal + ascorbic acid at 3 g.kg-1diet (₦ 103.50). Significantly higher (p < 0.05) red blood cell, haemoglobin, haematocrit and mean corpuscular volume values were recorded in pigs fed ascorbic acid at 2 g.kg-1 diet, while pigs fed ascorbic acid at 3 g.kg-1 diet had the highest cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, creatinine, urea, total protein and globulin (p < 0.05) levels. Pigs offered ascorbic acid had significantly higher bleed weight, carcass weight, belly, abdominal fat, back fat thickness and whole and empty stomach weight than those fed the control diet. It can be concluded that vitamin C supplementation (up to 3 g.kg-1) had no negative impact on the growth performance and economic indices (except the feed cost) of the pigs, while it improved the haematological parameters and carcass weight and also enhanced fat deposition.