Impact Of A Dietary Phytogenic Feed Additive On Growth Performance Of Growing Finishing Pigs

Abstract Abstract: Two experiments were conducted involving a total of 1560 pigs (25.82 kgs, PIC and Hypor) to evaluate if phytogenic feed additive (PFA), containing essential oils and pungent substances, has positive impact on growth performance of growing finishing pigs. Pens in each experiment (Study 1: 11 pens, 20 pigs per pen; Study 2: 15 pens, 20 pigs per pen) were randomly allocated to one of 3 dietary treatments containing 0, 68, or 136 g/ton of the PFA. Feeding program consisted of 3 feeding phases of 21 d each. Body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and gain to feed (GF) were measured for each phase and overall. Performance data were analyzed using PROC MIX of SAS using RCBD design with dietary inclusion of PFA, pen location blocked within a study and initial BW as covariate. Orthogonal contrasts were used to determine linear or quadratic effect of PFA. No significant differences (P>0.20) were observed in ADG, ADFI or GF during the first 2 phases of the study. During phase 3 however, increasing the level of PFA resulted in a linear increase in ADG (P< 0.001) and a quadratic response in ADFI (P< 0.05) and GF (P< 0.05). Overall, linear improvements in ADG (P< 0.001) was observed with addition of PFA in the diets (+2.5%, +3% vs. NC). Similarly, increasing the level of PFA in the diet tended to linearly improve final BW (P< 0.10, +0.9%, +1.6% vs. NC). The results of this study indicate a positive impact of feeding a PFA on growth of growing-finishing pigs.