The Influence of Allelochemicals of Pride of Barbados (Caesalpina pulcherrima) Seeds in Nutrition of Swine

Investigations into the influence of allelochemicals of Pride of Barbados (Caesalpina pulcherrima) seed meal (PBSM) processed by traditional and chemical methods and using weaner pigs was conducted. 20-pigs weighing an average of 3.7kg were fed diets made of a corn-soy reference diet and diets with 5, 10 15 and 20% inclusion of PBSM in a one way ANOVA using completely randomized design model. The feeding trial lasted a month while the experimental animals were offered feed and water ad libitum. Results on quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds in the virgin and treated seed samples showed that raw seed meal contained 0.708% tannins while boiled, boiled and fermented, boiled-fermented poluvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) treated gave 0.534, 0.406 and 0.360% tannin content respectively. Treated PBSM in diets did not influence performance characteristics and 100% survival rate was recorded on both the control and test diets. Biochemical indices were ascending and descending in values due to increasing levels of dietary content of PBSM. Processing PBSM had no deleterious effects on the pigs' electrolyte balance except on K+ which the significant difference was on the positive side. Summarily, treating PBSM as described and including in diets up to 20% level produced diets comparable in nutritional value with the conventional diet.