A study on the effect of phytogenics in weanling pigs challenged with Escherichia coli K88

Abstract Text: Phytogenic feed additives have become attractive alternatives in animal diets. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a phytogenic-based feed additive in weanling pigs after dietary challenged with E. coli K88. A total of 120 crossbred pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc)] with an initial BW of 6.09 ± 0.96 kg (21 d of age) were assigned randomly to 1 of 4 dietary treatments. Each pen housed 5 pigs and there were 6pens/treatment. Treatments include: T1, negative control (without antibiotics); T2, T1 + antibiotic (Apramycin 150 ppm at Phase 1 + Tiamulin 39 ppm at Phase 2 and Phase 3); T3, T1 + 0.05% phytogenics and T4, T1 + 0.2% commercial mix of organic acids (Commercial). Six pigs per treatment (1 pig per replicate) were orally challenged with 2ml (1.0 x 10⁸ cfu/ml) E. coli K88. The digestibility of DM, N, energy, ash, Ca, and P was using Wiley mill method. The chromium was analyzed via UV absorption spectrophotometry. Data were analyzed by using GLM procedures of SAS (1996), with each pen being used as the experimental unit. The means of the treatments were compared by Duncan’s multiple range test with a P < 0.05 indicating significance. Overall, the ADG in the T3 treatment was higher (P<0.05). At wk 1, the ATTD of DM was increased (P<0.05) in T4 treatment. The ATTD of ash in T3 and T4 treatments was greater (P<0.05). At wk 3, pigs fed with the T4 diet had significantly higher (P<0.05) ATTD of DM. The ATTD of ash and Ca was significantly increased (P<0.05) in the T4 treatment. Pigs fed with T3 diet had a higher (P<0.05) ATTD of P. At wk 6, the ATTD of ash was significantly increased (P<0.05) in the T1 and T3 treatments. The data indicates that phytogenics positively affects growth performance in weanling pigs, indicating its use as alternatives in the diets of weanling pigs to significantly improve ADG under challenge with E.coli K88.

Keywords: phytogenics, growth performance, Escherichia coli K88