Use of essential oils and organic acids as piglet feed additives
2010
Tartrakoon, W. | Rugchati, O. | Tartrakoon, t., Rajamangala Univ. of Technology, Lanna Phitsanulok Campus, Phitsanulok 65000 (Thailand). Faculty of Science and Agricultural Technology | Wuthijaree, Naresuan Univ., Phitsanulok 65000 (Thailand). Faculty of Agriculture National Resource and Environment
Improvement of post-weaning growth rate and efficiency of feed utilization have been achieved by supplementing starter diets with feed additives. Presently, natural ingredients such as essential oils, which are found in many plants like spices and herbs, and organic acids have been used in piglet feed to improve their performance and prevent certain digestive problems, especially in the post-weaning period. The study sought to find a suitable mixture and an appropriate inclusion level in the diet of a feed additive prepared from essential oil mixes (EOM) and organic acids mixes (OAM) in post-weaning pig diet supplementation using growth performance and feed utilization as decision parameters. EOM included clove oil, mint oil, orange peel oil at the ratio of 1:1:1 by weight and OAM included fumaric acid, lactic acid and citric acid (1:1:1 by weight). The first experiment studied for 49 days on the performance and fecal characteristics of 28 days old weaned pigs consisting of 40 males and 40 females crossbred Duroc x (Large white x Landrace). The second experiment studied on the digestibility of nutrients in 40 weaned pigs grouped 4 pigs/group/diet by CRD. Diet 1 was control diet containing corn and soybean meal as the main ingredients. Diet 2 to 10 were control supplemented with 5, 10 and 20 g/kg of diet of the ratio of EOM:0AM 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1, respectively. There were significant differences in average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio of weaned pigs amongst diets. The weaned pigs fed diet 5 which contained 5 g/kg diet of each of clove oil, mint oil and orange peel oil 0.06%, respectively and each of fumaric acid, lactic acid and citric acid 0.11%, respectively, tended to be the greatest of ADG. Fecal shape and color did not differ amongst diets. The highest of digestibility coefficient of nutrients was found in diet 5. In conclusion, the mixture containing 0.06% each of clove oil, mint oil and orange peel oil, and 0.11% each of fumaric acid, lactic acid and citric acid was the suitable mixture for piglet feed additive at inclusion level 5 g/kg diet.
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