Vol. 9, Issue 2, Part C (2025)

Present study reports the effects of dietary supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) on growth of early weaned piglets in terms of body weight gain as well as on their health as assessed by occurrence rate of diarrhoea and haematological analysis. For the experiment, eighteen (18) numbers of clinically healthy piglets were randomly selected and weaned at 28 days of age. All the weaner piglets were of approximately same body weight. The selected piglets were grouped as control (C), treatment-I (T-1) and treatment-II (T-2) with six piglets in each group. The control group was fed only basal diet, while treatment-I and treatment-II groups were fed basal diet with inclusion of MOLP @ 1% and 2%, respectively. The feeding trial was conducted for a period six weeks i.e from day 28 to day 70. Occurrence of diarrhoea was recorded day to day basis, whereas body weight of the piglets was measured on the day of weaning (Day 28) and then till day 70 at 14 days intervals i.e on day 42, 56 and 70. Four (4) ml of blood was also collected on day 28, 42, 56 and 70 from each piglet of all three groups, which were immediately subjected to haematological analysis. Result of the study revealed that overall occurrence rate of diarrhoea was significantly lower in treatment groups as compared to control group. Nonetheless, the gain of body weight was higher in both the treatment groups than the control group although the variation was non-significant. Haematological data showed that Hb and PCV were significantly higher in the treatment groups, but MCV, MCH and MCHC were comparable amongst the experimental groups. TLC was higher, but neutrophil count dropped in the treatment groups. The variation observed in lymphocyte, monocyte and eosinophil counts between the control and treatment groups were statistically non-significant. Based on the results, it is concluded that dietary inclusion of MOLP is beneficial for growth and health of early weaned piglets as evidenced by higher body weight gain, lower incidences of post weaning diarrhoea and improved haematological indices.