In China, for 40 years Rare Earth Elements (REE) are used as growth promoters inanimal production. In recent studies of our group, we were able to show that thereare really ergotropic effects in piglets and in pigs, also when the animals are housedand fed under our western condition. We found an increase of daily weight gain up to12 % and feed conversion improved too. With this knowledge in mind, we becameinterested in the question, if phytogenic supplements in combination with REE mightinfluence growth parameteres in piglets synergistically. Two phytogenic compoundswere used alone or in combination in several feeding studies.The first feeding experiment was done with 96 piglets of the species DeutscheLandrasse X Pietrain, 12 animals per group. Over a period of ten weeks each grouphas been fed either a mixture of REE (as chloride, concentration of 0 respectively300 mg per kg feed) and / or two different phytogenic supplements (concentration of500 respectively 900 mg per kg feed). A small positive effect of 4% has beenobserved under the supplementation of REE.A second experiment has been done with 48 piglets (n=6 in the control, n=7 in thetreatment groups). The pigs have been fed over a period of six weeks the sameconcentrations of REE and the two ergotrope additives as in test one. Under theinfluence of REE (as citrate) and / or phytogenic additives an effect on growth andfeed conversion ratio become evident, however due to heavy diarrhoea, these datahave to be looked at cautiously.During the third feeding experiment, lasting seven weeks, 42 piglets grouped into sixgroups, have been fed a mixture of REE (as citrate, concentration of 0 respectively200mg per kg fed) and / or the two phytogenic additives (concentration of 500respectively 900 mg per kg feed). All five groups showed an effect on the feedconversion. The intensity of the effect was not constant over the whole time of theexperiment. During the second and third week, the stongest effects have beenobserved. Feed conversion improved by 19% in this time period. Looking at thewhole seven week period there was still a 9 % better feed conversion.REE as well as the phytogenic growth promoters have been shown to have a positiveimpact on feed conversion, but this effect was not statistically significant. An additiveeffects of REE in combination with phytogenic compounds has not been observed.
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