Abstract
The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a medicinal plant mixture (MP) (60% Bindens pilosa L., 15% Urena lobata L., 15% Pseuderanthemum palatiferum, 5% Ramulus Cinnamomi, and 5% Illicium verum Hook. f.) as a feed additive to promote the growth performance and meat quality of grower-finisher pigs. Forty-eight crossbred pigs (Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire)), with initial live body weights of 30.3 ± 1.42kg, were randomly allocated to four dietary groups, with three replicates of each group and four animals per replicate. The experimental pigs were fed a basal diet supplemented with MP powder at 0, 20, 40, or 60 g kg-1 of feed (T0, T20, T40, and T60) for 15 weeks. The growth performance, carcass quality parameters, chemical composition, fatty acids, and cholesterol contents of the pig meat were measured. There were no statistical differences (P> 0.05) in the final live body weight, overall average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio among the control and MP treatments. MP supplementation significantly increased the protein content (P = 0.02) and decreased the cholesterol content (P = 0.04) of raw longissimus dorsi muscle. The obtained results indicate that the dietary MP supplementation tested could have the potential to improve meat quality and decrease the cholesterol content in pork with no adverse effects on the growth performance.
Highlights
Antibiotic use in animal production for growth promotion and Effects of dietary supplementation with a mixed powder of medicinal plants disease prevention can contribute to the emergence of antibiotic resistance and an associated increase in public health risks (Suthathip et al, 2016)
The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a medicinal plant mixture (MP) (60% Bindens pilosa L., 15% Urena lobata L., 15% Pseuderanthemum palatiferum, 5% Ramulus Cinnamomi, and 5% Illicium verum Hook. f.) as a feed additive to promote the growth performance and meat quality of grower-finisher pigs
In Vietnam, the use of antibiotics in animal feed as growth promoters has been banned since January 1st, 2018 (The Government of Vietnam, 2017) and antibiotics used for disease prevention will be banned according to the roadmap beginning in 2021 and completely banned by 2025 (The Government of Vietnam, 2020)
Summary
Antibiotic use in animal production for growth promotion and Effects of dietary supplementation with a mixed powder of medicinal plants disease prevention can contribute to the emergence of antibiotic resistance and an associated increase in public health risks (Suthathip et al, 2016). The European Union-wide ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in animal feed entered into effect in January 2006. In Vietnam, the use of antibiotics in animal feed as growth promoters has been banned since January 1st, 2018 (The Government of Vietnam, 2017) and antibiotics used for disease prevention will be banned according to the roadmap beginning in 2021 and completely banned by 2025 (The Government of Vietnam, 2020). There is an urgent need to find alternatives to use in livestock production for improving growth performance and satisfying consumer demands in domestic and foreign markets for safe and quality animal products
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