The effect of a herbal extract used in pig fattening on the animals’ performance and blood components
Anna Czech
Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 LublinEdyta Kowalczuk
Institute of Animal Nutrition, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 LublinEugeniusz R. Grela
Institute of Animal Nutrition, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 LublinAbstract
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of an addition of a herbal extract (Prodol B) from garlic bulbs, common liquorice roots and tillers, common thyme herb and caraway
fruits in pig fattening on the animals’ performance, some morphological parameters (Ht, Hb, Ht, RBC, WBC, leucogram) and on the activity of some blood enzymes (AST, ALT, AP, LDH).
The animals were divided in 3 groups (3 groups × 40 piglets), kept in pens, 10 animals each. Group I (control) animals were fed with standard mixtures (Starter, Grower, Finisher) without any additives, whereas group II and III – the same mixtures, but supplemented with AGP (avilamycin) or a herbal extract (0.8 g kg-1 feed), respectively. Feed intake (daily) and body weight (4 times) were controlled. Blood samples were collected 3 times (at about 25, 60 and 90 kg body weight). The average daily gains (798 g with Prodol B vs. 812 g with AGP and 748 in the negative control group), feed conversion ratio (2.66 vs. 2.63 and 2.88, respectively) and blood parameters proved that this herbal preparation may constitute a valuable alternative for AGP, feed additive to the balanced feed mixtures with regard to basic nutritive components, minerals and vitamins in the feeding of growing pigs.
Keywords:
pigs, extract of herbs, performance, bloodReferences
Cullen S.P., Monahan F.J., Callan J.J., O’Doherty J.V., 2005. The effect of dietary garlic and rosemary on grower-finisher pig performance and sensory characteristics of pork. Irish J. Agric.
Food Res., 44(1), 57-67.
Friendship R.M., Henry S.C., 1996. Cardiovascular system, haematology and clinical chemistry. [In:] Leman A.D., Straw B.E., Mengeling W.L. (eds.), Diseases of swine. Iowa State Univ.
Press, USA, 3-11.
Grela E.R., Czech A., Baranowska M., 2001. Efektywność dodatku ziół w odchowie prosiąt. Annales UMCS, sec. EEE, Horticultura 9, 249-254.
Grela E.R., Czech A., Krukowski H., 2003. Wpływ ziół na wzrost i składniki krwi prosiąt. Med. Wet., 59, 5, 410 – 412.
Grela E.R., Gruszczyk M., Czech A., 2007. Effectiveness of herbs mixture in growing-finishing pig diets. Herba Pol., 53, 3, 343-349.
Grela E.R., Krusiński R., Matras J., 1998. Efficacy of diets with antibiotic and herb mixture additives in feeding of growing-finishing pigs. J. Anim. Feed Sci., 7, 171-175.
Grela E.R., Semeniuk V., 2006. Konsekwencje wycofania antybiotykowych stymulatorów wzrostu z żywienia zwierząt. Med. Wet., 62, 5, 502-507.
Hanczakowska E., Świątkiewicz M., 2005. Gallic acid or sage extract supplement in feed mixtures for finishing pigs. J. Anim. Feed Sci., 14, Suppl. 1, 353–356.
Kołacz B., Bodak E., Świtała M., Gajewczyk P., 1997. Herb as agents affecting the immunological status and growth of piglets weaned body weight deficiency. J. Anim. Feed Sci., 6, 269-279.
Lin B., Qiu I.T., Huang C.H., Li G.P., Huang Y.F., 2000. Effect of Chinese medicinal herbs on blood biochemical parameters of piglets early weaning diarrhoea. Fujian J. Agric. Sci., 15,
37-40.
Normy żywienia świń, 1993. Inst. Fizjologii i Żywienia Zwierząt im. Jana Kielanowskiego, PAN, Omnitech Press, Warszawa.
Wenk C., 2000. Herbs, spices and botanicals: „Old fashioned” or the new feed additives for tomorrow’s feed formulations? Concept for their successful use. [In:] Lyons T.P., Jacques K.A.
(eds.), Biotechnology in the Feed Industry. Proceedings of Alltech’s 16th Annual Symposium. Nottingham Univ. Press, 79-96.
Winnicka A., 2004. Wartości referencyjne podstawowych badań laboratoryjnych w weterynarii. Wyd. SGGW, Warszawa.
Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin
Institute of Animal Nutrition, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin
Institute of Animal Nutrition, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin
License
From 2022 articles are made available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0). Articles published before 2022 are available under Creative Commons Attribution – Non-commercial use – No derivative works 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Submission of the paper implies that it has not been published previously, that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
