Authors : F. S. Chang , J. Y. Huang , K. Kaphle , C. M. Tzeng , C. J.Yang , L. S. Wu and J. H. Lin
Abstract: Weaning is an essential but a stressful managerial practice in commercial swine husbandry. This is crucial period that influences the all round health and growth of the piglets. Modern day commercial pig farming has drastically reduced the weaning age and that makes post weaning care and management even more vital. Proper diet and sound management and protection from diseases are keys to the success of weaned piglet`s future growth. Diets of weaned piglets are fortified with many supplements and additives intended as growth promoters. Sub-therapeutic level of antibiotics in feed is widely employed to increase weight and improve feed efficiency in swine farming. Many nations and the European Union have restricted the sub-therapeutic use of some antibiotics in swine feed. This has led to the adoption of alternatives to antibiotics that can generate similar benefits with minimal undue complications. Herbs and herbal mixtures have been in the top of the list of alternatives to antibiotics. There is a need to further investigate different herbs that can be employed for the purpose as available information in this subject is found to be limited. In the same line we investigated the effects of employing Sarcandra glabra as growth promoter in swine feed and monitored the performance of the weaned piglets. Sixty piglets were kept under different diets and allocated into four groups with three duplicates. The pigs were fed pre-starter and starter diets ad libitum for first two and second two weeks of the experiment respectively. In the pre-starter phase, the treatments were: Group 1: Basal diet (control); Group 2: Basal diet + 55 ppm Levamisole (positive control); Group 3: Basal diet + 0.4% dried herb powder; Group 4: Basal diet + 0.064% water extracted herb powder. In the starter phase, the treatments were as follows: Group 1: Basal diet (control); Group 2: Basal diet + 55 ppm Levamisole (positive control); Group 3: Basal diet + 0.05% dried herb powder; Group 4: Basal diet + 0.008% water extracted herb powder. Daily feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and other parameters were monitored for a period of four weeks. Extracts of S. glabra in the diet improved the daily feed intake and daily weight gain significantly (p<0.05) over the rest of the groups. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) for the entire experimental period of 28 days was significantly lower in the powdered herb and herb extract treated group. No statistical test was conducted for the diarrheic condition of the piglets, but overall it was found that the incidence both for the numbers of piglets and days of persistent diarrhea was lower with levamisole and S. glabra extract incorporated feed groups. The current work revealed that S. glabra extract has potency superior to that of levamisole as a growth promoter in swine feed. The exact mechanism how the herb extract contributes to enhanced performance in weaned piglets is a matter of further investigation.
F. S. Chang , J. Y. Huang , K. Kaphle , C. M. Tzeng , C. J.Yang , L. S. Wu and J. H. Lin , 2003. Performance of Weaning Piglets with Inclusion of Sarcandra glabra (Thunberg) Nakai Powder and Hot Water Extract in their Feed . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 2: 457-461.