A study on the effect of phytogenic supplementation in growing-finishing pigs

Abstract Text: The present study aims to analyze the effect of phytogenic supplementation in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 144 pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of 29.69±2.57 kg were used in a 16-wk trial. Treatments were arranged with low and high energy density levels of phytogenics. Each pen housed 5 pigs and there were 6pens/treatment. Treatments were arranged with 2 levels of energy density (low or high energy density) and 2 levels (0 or 100 ppm) of phytogenics using Aromex^®MEPlus brended of Thyme 22%, Rosemary 11%, Quillaja 19% obtained from Delacon, Austria. The experimental pig consists of grower (1 to 6 weeks), early finisher (7 to 12 weeks) and late finisher (13 to 16 weeks) periods. The data were analyzed as 2 x 2 factorial design by using the GLM procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) with the pen served as the experimental unit. The means of the treatments were compared by Duncan’s multiple range tests, with P<0.05 indicating significance. During 1 to 6 wk, pigs fed with low energy (LE) diets had much higher (Low vs. High, P<0.01) ADFI and a lower (Low vs. High, P<0.05) G:F ratio and High Energy (HEA) treatment had a higher (P<0.05) G:F ratio and the digestibility of N in the feces. Overall, phytogenics supplementation led to a significant increase (-Phy vs. +Phy, P<0.05) in the G:F ratio and a significant decrease (-Phy vs. +Phy, P<0.05) in the ADFI. Application of high energy level (Low vs. High, P<0.05) improved the G:F ratio. The ADFI was decreased (P<0.05) in HEA treatment compared with LE and HE treatments. The feeding of phytogenics to growing-finishing pigs led to a significant increase of the G:F ratio and the digestibility of N in the feces.

Keywords: Phytogenics, nutrient digestibility, noxious gas