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

• Published in: Livestock science Vol. 108; no. 1; pp. 272 - 275
• Main Authors: Kong, X.F., Wu, G.Y., Liao, Y.P., Hou, Z.P., Liu, H.J., Yin, F.G., Li, T.J., Huang, R.L., Zhang, Y.M., Deng, D., Kang, P., Wang, R.X., Tang, Z.Y., Yang, C.B., Deng, Z.Y., Xiong, H, Chu, W.-Y., Ruan, Z., Xie, M.Y., Yin, Y.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-05-2007
• Subjects: Chinese herbs; Dietary additive; Growth performance; Intestinal health; Chinese herbs; Dietary additive; Growth performance; Intestinal health
• ISSN: 1871-1413; 1878-0490
• DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2007.01.079

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.