Abstract
BackgroundSince the use of antibiotics in animal feed has become a critical concern worldwide due to severe threats to human health and environment, we are in need of finding alternatives to antibiotics in pig breeding, maintaining the health of pigs, and getting high‐quality pork. As traditional Chinese herbs (TCH) are rich natural resources in China and show great benefits to human health we propose to transfer this abundant resource into animal production industry as additives.MethodsThree groups of Chinese herbs (groups A, B, and C) were used as feed additives in the diet for pigs. In total 32 pigs were arranged in four groups (groups A, B, C, and control group, NC), fed in the same facility, eight pigs (one group) in each colony, free drinking, for 120 days. The feed:gain ratio (F/G), meat quality, total protein, and amino acid concentration of muscle were checked in the experiments.ResultsAfter 120 days of feeding, the feed:gain ratio (F/G) of pigs in groups A, B, and C was decreased 17.56%, 9.31%, and 13.86% compared with NC treatment, respectively. The diets supplemented with Chinese herbs improved meat quality, increased loin eye area (especially group A and C showed significant difference, P < .001), the total protein (increased ratio vs NC was A = 4.54%, B = 0.38% and C = 3.53%), amino acid concentration of muscle, increased the villus height:crypt depth ratio, and induced positive effects on serum biochemical parameters and immune function (serum TC and TG concentrations were significantly lower than those in the NC group, P < .05.).ConclusionsThe use of Chinese herbal feed additives can reduce the cost of pig breeding and produce high‐quality pock. The combination of these effects would contribute to better absorption ability of the intestinal tract and yield a better growth performance.
Highlights
Antibiotics have long been of great benefit for people, both in the medical treatment of human disease and in animal food, where they improve the growth performance and feed utilization during animal production.[1]
As traditional Chinese herbs (TCH) are rich natural resources in China and show great benefits to human health we propose to transfer this abundant resource into animal production industry as additives
The results demonstrated that the diets supplemented with Chinese herbs improved meat quality and the amino acid concentration of muscle, as the total protein, total amino acids, total lipid, and crude ash of pigs in group A, B, and C were increased
Summary
Antibiotics have long been of great benefit for people, both in the medical treatment of human disease and in animal food, where they improve the growth performance and feed utilization during animal production.[1]. The use of antibiotics in animal feed has become a critical concern worldwide due to the severe threats to human health and the environment.[1-3]. As TCH are rich natural resources in China and show great benefits to human health we propose to transfer this abundant resource into animal production industry as additives. Chinese herbs are garnering growing interest as feed additives in animal production, but data on the effects of Chinese herbs on swine production are scarce.[7]. The herbs were put in the feed for 120 days, and growth performance, meat quality, serum biochemical parameters, intestinal villus morphology, and gut microbiota were investigated. The results confirm the feasibility of Chinese herbs as feed additives in the production of pigs
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