Effect of material bioconversion natural complex on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, fecal score, fecal moisture and pH in weanling pigs

Abstract Text:

A total of 150 pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc], BW of 6.57 ± 0.49 kg, were used in a 6-wk trial to investigate the effects of material bioconversion natural complex (STR) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, fecal score, fecal moisture, and pH in weanling pigs. STR is a propolis feed additive contained more than 60% propolis and 6% of total flavonoid in powder form and produced from fermentation of mulberry leaves and turmeric with bacterial of mulberry yellow mushroom. Pigs were randomly allocated into 1 of 5 dietary treatments on the basis of BW and sex [6 replicate pens per treatment with 5 pigs (2 gilts and 3 barrows) per pen]. Dietary treatments were: 1) NC (basal diet, free of antibioitics), 2) PC (NC + 3 ppm Tiamulin), 3) STR-1 (NC + 0.1% STR1), 4) STR-2 (NC + 0.1% STR2), 5) STR-3 (NC + 0.1% STR3). STR1, STR2, and STR3 contain 1.5%, 3%, and 6% of active complex powder, respectively. Apparent nutrient digestibility was measured following the procedures by the AOAC (2000). Throughout the experimental period, pigs fed with STR-2 and STR-3 diets had higher (487, 492 vs. 474 g; P<0.05) ADG compared with pigs fed with NC diet and the G/F ratio of STR-3 treatment was higher (0.720 vs. 0.692; P<0.05) than that of NC treatment. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter was higher (1 wk: 83.96 vs. 82.22%; 3 wk: 85.92 vs. 82.47 %; 6 wk: 81.05 vs. 77.23 %; P<0.05) in STR-3 treatment than in NC treatment. The ATTD of nitrogen was higher (79.98, 78.69, 78.87 vs. 76.54 %; P<0.05) in STR-1, STR-2, and STR-3 treatments than in NC treatment at wk 3. The ATTD of energy was higher (83.75 vs. 82.23 % and 82.70 vs. 79.23 %; P<0.05) in STR-3 treatment than in NC treatment at wk 1 and 6, respectively. The fecal score of pigs fed with STR-3 diet was lower (3.00 vs. 3.18; P<0.05) compared with pigs fed with STR-2 diet during wk 4. Moreover, fecal Escherichia coli concentration of pigs fed with STR was lower (5.75, 5.75, 5.76 vs. 5.90 log₁₀cfu/g; P<0.05) compared with pigs fed with NC diet. In conclusion, inclusion of STR3 (an antibiotic free diet) at a level of 0.1% could increase growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and decrease fecal score and fecal microbiota in weanling pigs.

Keywords: growth performance, fecal score, nutrient digestibility, STR, weanling pig