The effect of dietary supplementation with a blend of herbal extracts and aluminosilicates on nutrient digestibility and the growth performance of weaned piglets.

摘要

Two complete diets for weaned piglets were analyzed. Control diet I was composed of soybean meal, ground barley, ground wheat, premix and acids. Experimental diet II was supplemented with 0.1% Vilocym, a blend of herbal extracts (Azadirachta indica, Curcuma longa, Allium sativum, Andrographis paniculata, Solanum nigrum) and sodium-calcium aluminosilicates. Nutrient digestibility was determined by a simple balance method, on 16 young barrows [(Polish Large White x Polish Landrace) x Duroc] with average initial body weight of 25 kg, assigned to two dietary treatments. A five-day experimental period proper was preceded by a seven-day adjustment period. A production trial was carried out on a pig farm, and it involved 240 weaners with average initial body weight of 20.5 kg, divided into two groups. Each group comprised four pens, with 30 animals per pen. The experiment lasted 30 days. Dietary supplementation with herbal extracts and aluminosilicates improved the digestibility of crude fat, total protein and organic matter. Weaned piglets fed Vilocym were characterized by higher daily gains than control group animals (725 g vs. 665 g, P<=0.05). Feed consumption per kg body weight gain was significantly lower in group II (2.14 g/kg vs. 2.33 g/kg, P<=0.05).