Antioxidant and Acidifier Properties of Roselle (Hibicus sabdariffa Linn.) Calyx Powder on Lipid Peroxidation, Nutrient Digestibility and Growth Performance in Fattening Pigs

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate an antioxidant and acidifier properties of Roselle in fattening pigs. Twenty crossbred pigs were randomly allocated to 4 treatments with 5 replicates. Four diets were calculated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous: control diet, control diet supplemented with antibiotic (Chlortetracycline) 50 mg/kg or acidifier (Fra® Acid Dry) 4 g/kg and diet containing Roselle calyx powder at the level of 40 g/kg. Pigs were raised in individual concrete pen and received diet ad libitum for 8 weeks. Body weight, feed intake, blood constituent and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were measured in two consecutive periods at 4th and 8th week. Fecal content was collected at the end of the experiment to determine the coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD). The blood constituent data was not significant difference (p>0.05) but the neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio was more likely high in both periods. TBARS value was not differed (p>0.05) among treatments. Roselle had the highest CATTD value of ether extract and significant difference from the others (p<0.05). Roselle also gave the highest CATTD value of phosphorous when compared to control and acidifier (p<0.05) but was not significantly different with antibiotic (p>0.05). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significant differences among treatment groups in the second period (p<0.05) and the best FCR was Roselle group but not significant difference when compared to control and antibiotic. The result implied that Roselle at the level of 40 g/kg could not clearly show neither antioxidant nor acidifier properties in fattening pigs.