WATERMELON RIND (CITRULLINE LANATUS) SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVES GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF PIGS VIA ENHANCED NUTRIENT TRANSPORTERS GENE EXPRESSION.

Abstract

Watermelon rind meal (WMR-M) is one of the vast agro-waste that may have potential as a feed supplement for livestock. This study investigated the effect of levels of Watermelon rind meal supplementation as protein source on growth performance and nutrient absorption mRNA expression in Pigs for five-week trial. A total of twenty (20) White Landrace piglets were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatment groups with five (5) replicates and one piglet each. The treatments had 0%, 15 %, 30% and 45% WMR-M supplementation. Piglets fed 45% WMR-M had improved (P<0.05) feed intake and weight gain (2341.41g) compared to 2201.31 g,  2041.41 g, and 1987.16 g, recorded for 30%, 15% and 0%, respectively. Feed conversion rate (FCR) decreased from 1.77 for 45% supplementation to 2.16 recorded in the control (0%). Supplementation with 45% WMR-M significantly (P<0.05) increased excitatory amino acid transporter 3 (EAAT 3) by 5, 12 and 15 times in 15%, 30% and 45% groups. All other nutrient transporters were enhanced in piglets fed WMR-M based diets. 45% WMR-M supplementation may be recommended in diets of piglets due to its improved growth performance and up regulated nutrient related transporters in the epithelial cells of Pigs.