Evaluation of different sources of minerals on growth performance and serum mineral profile of crossbred pigs

Abstract

Eighteen crossbred (Hampshire x Local) growing pigs of 3 months of age attaining about 19-20 kg body
weight were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups of 6 pigs each and were replicated twice. The pigs
under the different treatment groups were offered ad libitum standard grower ration supplemented with
three different forms of mineral mixtures i.e. inorganic @ 1.5 Kg, T1; organic @ 100 g T2; and chelated
inorganic @ 250 g per 100 Kg of the ration T3 for 90 days. Weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion
ratio were 42.5± 0.71, 47.17± 0.30 and 41.00± 0.93 kg; 169.44± 3.04, 162.29± 3.00 and 167.02± 3.45 kg;
3.99± 0.08, and 3.44± 0.06 and 4.07± 0.04 for T1, T2 and T3 groups respectively. The serum mineral level
showed no significant difference regarding calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) among different treatment groups
at 4.5 months of age. But the serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) level were significantly higher (P<0.05) in
the group which was fed with organic source of mineral than other two groups.