PSIII-8 Impact of Essential Oil Combination on Performance and Coughing Prevalence in Nursery Pigs

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate a liquid essential oil combination based on eucalyptus, peppermint, and crystals of menthol on performance and coughing prevalence of nursery pigs. One hundred forty-four 24-d old weaned crossbred pigs (5.91 ± 0.94 kg) were housed 12 per pen and received via drink water an essential oils combination (BronchoVest, Biochem Zusatzstoffe Handels und Produktionsges, Germany) in the proportion of 200 mL per each 1000 L of drinking water, from day 25 to 34, 47 to 53, and 57 to 64 of age (BV), or no additive in the drinking water (CON). The animals from the two treatments were fed corn soybean-meal based diets in four feeding phases program. Growth performance was measured by feeding phase and in the total period, and the coughing prevalence was determined daily. A randomized block design was used based on body weight of the pigs, with 6 replicates, using the pen as the experimental unit for performance variables, and the animal for coughing prevalence. Data were subjected to ANOVA and non-parametric contingency data were evaluated by Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Differences between means were considered statistically significant at P < 0.05 and a trend at P < 0.10. The DWG (0.185 kg vs. 0.197 kg; SD ± 0.016; P = 0.094) and ADFI (0.215 kg vs 0.218 kg: SD ± 0.026; P = 0.083) of BV-treated pigs tended to be greater than the CON animals in Pre-Starter II phase (Table 1). The total count of cough identifications (42 vs. 21, P = 0.001) and total number of animals (18 vs 9, P = 0.053) coughing during the experiment period were less in the BV animals, and the prevalence of total coughs trend to be greater in the CON (Table 2). In conclusion, the combination of essential oils based on eucalyptus and peppermint and crystals of menthol improved performance and reduced coughing symptoms of pigs in the nursery phase.