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

abstract

  • 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 21days of age were randomly assigned to one of the 3 treatment groups, representing supplementation with 0 or 2g/kg of the powder, or 0.2g/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. 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

published proceedings

  • LIVESTOCK SCIENCE

author list (cited authors)

  • Kong, X. F., Wu, G. Y., Liao, Y. P., Hou, Z. P., Liu, H. J., Yin, F. G., ... Yin, Y. L.

citation count

  • 92

complete list of authors

  • Kong, XF||Wu, GY||Liao, YP||Hou, ZP||Liu, HJ||Yin, FG||Li, TJ||Huang, RL||Zhang, YM||Deng, D||Kang, P||Wang, RX||Tang, ZY||Yang, CB||Deng, ZY||Xiong, H||W. -Y., Chu||Ruan, Z||Xie, MY||Yin, YL

publication date

  • May 2007