This study was designed to determine the effect of ultra-fine Chinese herbal powder as a dietary additive on serum concentrations and apparent ileal digestibilities (AID) of amino acids (AA) in young pigs. In Exp 1, sixty Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire piglets weaned at 21 days of age were randomly assigned to three treatment groups, representing supplementation with 0 or 2 g/kg of the powder, or 0.2 g/kg of colistin (an antibiotic) to maize- and soybean meal-based diets (n = 20 per group). Blood samples of five piglets per group were collected on days 7, 14 and 28 to determine serum AA content. In Exp 2, twelve barrows with an average initial body weight of 7.64 kg were also randomly assigned into the three dietary treatment groups, followed by surgical placement of a simple T-cannula at the terminal ileum. All of the diets contained 0.1％ titanium oxide as a digestibility marker. The samples of terminal ileal digesta were collected on day 7 for determining AID of AA. Results show that dietary supplementation with the herbal power increased (P < 0.05) serum concentrations and AID of most AA by 10-50％ and 10-16％, respectively. As an indicator of improved intestinal function, AID values of calcium were also enhanced in piglets supplemented with the herbal powder. Dietary supplementation of colistin increased serum concentrations and AID values of some AA by 8-44％ and 10-15％, respectively, in comparison with the non-supplemented group. These novel findings demonstrate that the herbal powder can enhance the digestibility of dietary protein and the intestinal absorption of AA into the systemic circulation in post-weaning pigs, therefore providing a new mechanism for its growth- and immunity-promoting efficacy.
ultra-fine Chinese herbal powder amino acids digestion piglets
Key Laboratory for Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of SubtropicalAgricult State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi330047 Ch Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843 USA Key Laboratory for Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of SubtropicalAgricult Key Laboratory for Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of SubtropicalAgricult