Addition of pyroligneous extract (wood vinegar) to the diet of growing and finishing pigs

Abstract

The search for growth promoters from natural resources is essential for swine breeding. This study evaluated the effect of including different levels of eucalyptus wood vinegar (WV) in the swine diet on the performance, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the carcass, and diarrhea index. Twenty-four crossbred females (Pietrain, Landrace, and Large White lines) were used, with an average initial weight of 31.2 + 5.6 kg. The animals received feed and water ad libitum. The feed was composed of corn, soybean meal, vegetable oil, and commercial supplement (evimix), and the dietary experiments consisted of rising levels of pyroligneous extract (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%). At the end of the experimental period (72 days), when the animals had an average weight of 97.5 kg, the following performance parameters were measured: daily feed consumption (DFC), daily weight gain (DWG), food recovery (FR), and quantitative and qualitative carcass limits. The results demonstrated no linear or quadratic effect (P<0.05) on the growth phase between treatments. However, considering the total period (growth phase + termination) of the animals in the 1% group, they presented a linear effect (P<0.05) for DFC but no significant effect for DWG and FR. There was no difference (P<0.05) between quantitative and qualitative carcass values. Evaluation of the diarrhea index showed that the WV did not change like the animals' feces. So, WV can be used up to 1.5% of the diet of these animals without causing damage to performance or carcass quality, in addition to shortening the time to slaughter by 10%.