LAUSR

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary carob wholemeal (Ceratonia siliqua L.) through monitoring the changes in some blood parameters (RBC, LEU, CD45+, CD4+, CD8+, CD21+) on the growth and development of weaned pigs (Swedish Landrace and Yorkshire cross-breeds). Thirty pigs were divided into two groups. In the control group the pigs were fed with a standard feed mixture. In the second, the experimental group (EXP), the feed mixture was enriched daily with carob wholemeal in a dose of 40 g/ kg diet. Both groups were fed ad libitum. At the end of the 42-day experiment the pigs in the EXP groups were on average 23% heavier. The total sugar content, total phenolic content, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins and total antioxidant content of the carob wholemeal was determined. Carob wholemeal contains high carbohydrate content (73%). The total phenolic content value was 9.98 ± 0.18 mg GAE/g. The total flavonoid value was 6.56 ± 0.19 mg GAE/g, or 65% of total polyphenols, from which it can be seen that antioxidant activity is correlated to the total phenolic content. The total anthocyanins content was 34.00 ± 0.07 mg CE/g while the total tannin content was 658.75 ± 18.75 μg TAE/g. The ABTS method values were 89.50 ± 0.17 μmol TE/g sample while antioxidant activity determined by the DPPH method was 56.87 ± 0.66 μmol TE/g sample. Carob *Corresponding author: Assistant professor Branimira Špoljarić, PhD, Clinic for Obstetrics and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia, Phone: +385 1 2390 168; E-mail: [email protected] DOI: 10.24099/vet.arhiv.0314