Effects of Chinese herbal formula on growth performance and serum biochemical parameters in weaned piglets
中草药对仔猪生长性能和血清生化参数的影响

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary additive of Chinese herbal formula on the growth performance,diarrhea index,serum biochemical parameters and peptic index in early-weaned piglets.Sixty piglets weaned at 21 days of age were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups,representing supplementation with 0 or 2g/kg of the herbal formula or 0.2g/kg of colistin to maize-and soybean meal-based diets(n=20 per group).Dietary supplementation with the formula could increase weight gain and feed efficiency(P<0.05),and effectively prevent piglets from diarrhea(P<0.05).Such functions of the formula were equal to or stronger than those of colistin's.On day 7,the concentration of TG in the formula group was significantly lower than that in the supplement-free group(P<0.05);On day 14,the activity of GOT in the formula group was significantly higher than those in the colistin group(P<0.05),and the activity of CK was lower(P<0.05)than those in the colistin group and the supplement-free group;On day 28,the activity of AMY in the formula group was significantly higher than those in the colistin group and the supplement-free group,and of CK significantly lower than that in the colistin group((P<0.05)).Collectively,these findings indicate that the herbal formula is safe and effective in preventing the weaning-associated intestinal dysfunction and improving the growth performance in piglets.