Effect of Kalahari melon essential oil (Citrullus lanatus), butyric acid, and their blend in grower pig diets on blood hematology, nutritional status, liver enzyme activity, and oxidative stress.

The need for alternative growth promoters in pig production has arisen from the ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters. Important markers of an animal's physiological and health state are blood biochemistry and hematology. Blood analysis is a useful tool for evaluating pig physiology and health. Therefore, the study assessed the effects of dietary supplementation of Kalahari essential oil, butyric acid and their blend based on blood hematology, serum biochemistry and state of immunity in growing pigs. Forty mixed sex Large White growing pigs were weighed and randomly allocated to five dietary treatments, NC-negative control (no growth promoter), PC- positive control growth promoter (Zinc Bacitracin), KEO- Kalahari melon essential oil (0.4%), BA- Butyric acid (0.6%) and KEBA-Kalahari melon essential oil (0.4%) + Butyric acid (0.6%). Each dietary treatment was allocated eight pigs and each pig was considered an experimental unit. The red blood cell (RBC) count for the NC and PC were within the normal reference range, while the white blood cell count (4.7 ± 1.16) for NC was below the normal range. The platelet count was significantly different (P < 0.05) from KEO, BA and KEBA. White blood cell count for NC (4.7 ± 1.16) was below the normal reference range and significantly different (P < 0.05) when compared to other dietary treatments. Kalahari melon essential oil, butyric acid and their blend had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on liver enzyme activity and oxidative stress and it resembled some association with liver functions. Calcium was normal for all dietary treatments. The results indicated that Kalahari melon essential oil, butyric acid had a positive influence on blood hematology, serum biochemistry and oxidative stress in growing pigs and can be used as a growth promoter.