System of antioxidant protection of the body of piglets under the action of feed additive “Sylimevit”

Abstract

One of the conditions for obtaining high-quality pig products is the use of feed additives, which contain all the necessary biologically active substances, eliminating their deficiency in feed and acting as catalysts for metabolic processes in pigs. That is why the aim of the study was to study the effect of feed additive “Sylimevit” on the enzymatic and non-enzymatic parts of the antioxidant system of piglets after weaning. Two groups of piglets were formed – control and experimental, in the amount of 10 individuals in each group, selected on the principle of analogues – age, breed and body weight. During the weaning period, the piglets were kept under the sow in special machines, had constant access to the mother, and from the age of 5 days – free access to concentrated feed. Feeding of animals was carried out in accordance with the norms for a given age of pigs. Prior to the study, a clinical and physiological examination of the piglets was performed. Their general condition and activity when eating food were taken into account. On the 28th day of life, the piglets were weaned from the sow and regrouped from different nests in order to be further maintained during the period of fattening and rearing with a change in the structure of the diet, which served as technological stress for the animals. From the age of 5 days, piglets of all groups were fed pre-starter feed. Piglets of the experimental group, from 21 to 40 days of age, were additionally fed the feed supplement “Sylimevit” at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight per day. Feeding piglets Silimevit feed enhances their antioxidant status. The use of this feed additive in piglets contributed to the activation of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic parts of the antioxidant defense system of piglets after weaning, as indicated by an increase in blood 35-day-old piglets superoxide dismutase activity by 26.9 % (P < 0.001), catalase – 41.1 % (P < 0.001), glutathione peroxidase – by 52.7 % (P < 0.05), glutathione reductase – by 53.5 % (P < 0.05), the content of reduced glutathione – by 75 % (P < 0.001). This is due to the fact that silimevit contains active substances such as milk thistle and vitamins, which are strong direct-acting antioxidants and directly interact with free radicals and reactive oxygen species.