The Use of Leucaena leucacephala Leaf Meal as a Protein Supplement for Pig

Sixteen Large White횞Landrace pigs 12 weeks of age, with an average body weight of 22.9 2.12 kg were fed four experimental diets; a commercial grain-based grower diet (control); or a diet containing 20% of either sun-dried leucaena leaf meal (LLM), water soaked LLM or FeSO4-treated LLM, replacing the basal diet. There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in live weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) in pigs fed the diet containing sun-dried LLM. Growth rate, feed intake and FCE were not affected by the addition of water-soaked and FeSO4-treated LLM to the basal diet. Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels in the blood plasma were not affected by the dietary treatments. Addition of FeSO4-treated LLM to the basal diet significantly (p<0.05) reduced the back fat thickness of the pigs.