GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND ACCEPTABILITY OF PORK BUTT OF PIGS FED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH Nymphaea lotus LEAF MEAL

Abstract

This study evaluated the growth performance and sensory attributes of pork butt from pigs fed Nymphaea lotus leaf meal (NLLM)-supplemented diets. Forty crossbred (Large White × Landrace) weaner pigs (7 weeks old; 9.41–9.82 kg) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomised design, with five replicates of two pigs each. Treatments included 0% (T1/control), 0.5% (T2), 1% (T3), and 1.5% (T4) NLLM. Data collected included weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and sensory evaluation of pork butt (aroma, flavour, tenderness, juiciness, and acceptability). All data collected were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the statistical software package SAS (version 9.4). Significant differences among the means were determined at p < 0.05 using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Average weight gain (AWG) was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced, with T1 (11.20 kg) and T2 (11.11 kg) showing higher gains than T3 (9.74 kg). Feed intake was unaffected (p > 0.05), while FCR varied significantly (p < 0.05), with T1 and T2 showing the best efficiency (2.10 and 2.09, respectively), while T3 recorded the highest FCR (2.39). Sensory evaluation showed no significant effects on aroma and flavour (p > 0.05), but tenderness (6.77), juiciness (6.45), and

acceptability (6.66) were significantly higher in T2 (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that moderate inclusion of NLLM (0.5%) supports optimal growth performance, improves feed efficiency, and enhances pork quality, while excessive inclusion may negatively impact growth and meat attributes.