Effects of Herbiotic FS supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and faecal scores in weanling pigs

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Herbiotic FS supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, and faecal scores in weanling pigs. A total of 150 weanling pigs [(Landrace×Yorkshire)×Duroc] with an average initial body weight of 8.02 ± 0.92 kg were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments (5 replicate pens per treatment with 6 pigs per pen). The dietary treatments were as follows: (1) negative control: basal diet, (2) positive control: basal diet + 150 mg/kg apramycin, (3) Herbiotic1: basal diet + 250 mg/kg Herbiotic FS, (4) Herbiotic2 (basal diet + 500 mg/kg Herbiotic FS), and (5) Herbiotic3: (basal diet + 250 mg/kg Herbiotic FS + 75 mg/kg apramycin). During days 1-7, pigs fed positive control, Herbiotic2 and Herbiotic3 diets had improved average daily gain and gain:feed ratio compared with those fed negative control or Herbiotic1 diets (P < 0.05). On day 21, pigs fed positive control and Herbiotic3 diets had increased nitrogen digestibility compared with those fed negative control or Herbiotic1 diets (P < 0.05). In conclusion, Herbiotic FS supplementation decreased the pathogenic count in the gut owing to its antimicrobial activity and this in turn caused the nutrients more available to the animal contributing to the growth. ARTICLE HISTORY

Maximum levels of cross‐contamination for 24 antimicrobial active substances in non‐target feed. Part 2: Aminoglycosides/aminocyclitols: apramycin, paromomycin, neomycin and spectinomycin

“…The study by Lei et al. ( 2018 ) was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with a phytogenic feed additive and a positive control containing apramycin (150 mg/kg feed) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics and faecal scores in weaned pigs. A total of 150 pigs ((Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc; BW 8.0 kg) were randomly assigned to treatments with five pens per treatment each including six pigs.…”

“…( 2012 ) and Zhao and Kim ( 2015 ), 100 mg/kg feed; Lei et al. ( 2018 ), 150 mg/kg feed; Zhang and Kim ( 2014 ) and Hossain et al. ( 2016 ), 165 mg/kg feed; Yoon et al.…”

Selected feed additives used in pig nutrition

“…Herbs and essential oils are used in pig nutrition due to their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-parasite properties Grela and Klebaniuk, 2007;Liu et al, 2017;Lei et al, 2018;Zhao et al, 2019). The characteristics of selected herbs used in pig nutrition are presented in Table 1.…”

“…Liu et al (2017) found that a mix of herbal extracts (Scutellaria baicalensis and Lonicera japonica) used as an addition to the diets of sows under thermal stress improves the intake and digestibility of feed and has a beneficial effect on the weight gain and weaning weight of piglets. Herbal mixes are widely used as additives to feed for piglets and weaners (Khan et al, 2009;Hanczakowska and Świątkiewicz, 2012;Lei et al, 2018;Zhao et al, 2019;Wang et al, 2020). Hanczakowska and Świątkiewicz (2012) demonstrated that an extract from sage, lemon balm, nettle and echinacea added in the amount of 500 mg/kg feed for piglets contributed to extending their intestinal villi, and thus improved the digestibility and conversion of the feed ration.…”

Effects of different levels of dietary protein with or without plant extract YGF251 on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, fecal microbial shedding, and fecal gas emission in growing pigs

“…In the context of the gradually restricted or fully banned use of antibiotics in the diets of food-producing animals, phytogenic feed additives like medicinal plants and their extracts have attracted wide spread attention due to their plant-derived property and growthpromoting effect (Lei, Yun, Kang, & Kim, 2018;Mendel, Chłopecka, Dziekan, & Karlik, 2017;Si et al, 2006). Numerous previous studies have shown that plant extract scan be effective in improving the growth and health of pigs (Windisch, Schedle, Plitzner, & Kroismayr, 2008).…”