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Effects of Chinese herbal ultra-fine powder as a dietary additive on growth performance, serum metabolites and intestinal health in early-weaned piglets

2007; Elsevier BV; Volume: 108; Issue: 1-3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.livsci.2007.01.079

1878-0490

Xiangfeng Kong, Guoyao Wu, Y.P. Liao, Zhenping Hou, H.J. Liu, Fugui Yin, T.J. Li, Ruilin Huang, Yiyu Zhang, Dun Deng, Ping Kang, R.X. Wang, Zixin Tang, C.B. Yang, Zeyuan Deng, Hua Xiong, Wuying Chu, Zheng Ruan, Mingyong Xie, Yulong Yin,

Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with a Chinese herbal ultra-fine powder on growth performance, serum metabolites and intestinal health in early-weaned piglets. Sixty piglets weaned at 21 days of age were randomly assigned to one of the 3 treatment groups, representing supplementation with 0 or 2 g/kg of the powder, or 0.2 g/kg of colistin to maize- and soybean meal-based diets (n = 20 per group). Dietary supplementation with the powder increased ADFI and ADG, improved the gain/feed ratio, and reduced the incidence of diarrhea in the weaned piglets (P < 0.05), compared with the non-additive group. In contrast to colistin, the Chinese herbs decreased (P < 0.05) serum levels of triglycerides and glucose and increased (P < 0.05) serum concentrations of ferrum and phosphorus. Collectively, these findings indicate that the Chinese herbal powder is safe and effective in preventing the weaning-associated intestinal dysfunction and improving the growth performance in piglets.