ARTICLES

 

Effects of various additives to enhance growth performance, blood profiles, and reduce malodour emissions in growing pigs

 

 

W. G. Kwak^{I, *}; I. H. Park^{II, *}; W. Yun^I; J. H. Lee^I; C. H. Lee^I; S. Y. Oh^I; H. J. Oh^I; Shudong Liu^I; Y. H. Kim^III; J. C. Park^III; G. S. Kim^IV; J. H. Cho^{I, #}

^IDivision of Food and Animal Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea 286-44
^IIDepartment of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea 341 -34
^IIIDepartment of Swine Science, National Institute of Animal Science, Cheonan, Republic of Korea 310-00
^IVNational Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, 1500, Kongjwipatjwiro, Iseomyeon, Wanjugun, Jeollabukdo, Republic of Korea 553-65

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Experiment 1 was a feeding trial in which 75 (Landrace x Yorkshire) x Duroc pigs with average initial bodyweight (BW) of 26 ±1 kg were used. It was assigned to three pigs/pen and five pens/treatment. Experiment 2 was a metabolic trial in which 25 (Landrace x Yorkshire) x Duroc pigs with average initial bodyweight (BW) of 36 ± 1 kg were used. The basal diet consisted of maize (57.71 %), soybean meal (32.45 %), and wheat bran (5 %). Treatments consisted of i) CON (control diet); ii) OE (organic acid + essential oils) (Aviplus-S^®), that is, CON + 0.05 % OE; iii) OC (organic charcoal) (Olga Black^®), that is, CON + 0.1 % OC; iv) AE (anise extracts) (RESQ^®), that is, CON + 0.015 % AE; and v) PB (probiotics) (Bonvital^®), that is, CON + 0.1 % PB. Average daily gain (ADG) and gain/feed ratio (G : F) were significantly higher in the OE and AE groups than in the others. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) for OE, OC, and AE treatments was significantly higher than that for CON and PB treatments. Dry matter (DM) digestibility was significantly higher in AE than CON. Crude protein (CP) was significantly higher in OE, AE, and PB than CON. CON and other treatments did not cause significant differences in blood l-density lipoprotein (LDL), and glucose. NH₃emissions were significantly lower in all treated groups than in CON. Among the treatments, NH₃emissions were lowest in OE and AE. H2S emissions were significantly lower in OE, AE, and PB than in CON. Among the treatments, OE and AE were most effective at reducing H₂S emissions. The emissions of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) showed no significant difference between treatments and CON. In conclusion, this experiment was shown to be more effective on growth performance, malodour emission, blood profiles, and nutrient digestibility in OE and AE than other additives.

Keywords: Digestibility, feed, influence, odour, supplementation, swine

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Introduction

Several compounds, such as NH₃ (ammonia), H₂S (hydrogen sulfide), VFA (volatile fatty acids), and other odorous noxious gases are well known as odour-inducing substances in livestock facilities. In addition, several studies have indicated that eliminating malodours is costly and treatment for removal ranges from $0.1 to $3/1000 m³/year (Chung et al., 2004). Over the last few decades, several materials to treat this effectively have been analysed. Compounds such as essential oils, probiotics, organic acids, and charcoal have been utilized to eliminate malodours (Yan et al., 2010; Yan & Kim, 2013; Balasubramanian et al., 2016; Chao et al., 2016).

Essential oils have been demonstrated to improve performance and reduce diarrhoea by improving immune status, intestinal ecology, and nutrient digestibility in pigs (Li et al., 2012a). Furthermore, supplementation of herb extract mixtures, including those from buckwheat, thyme, curcuma, black pepper, and ginger, is not only effective in growth performance and blood cell concentration, but decreases NH3 and H₂S, which are the noxious gases in faeces (Yan et al., 2011). When fed anise oil, the feed intake of sow progeny improved significantly during lactation, their growth performance increased significantly during the later nursing period, and there were positive effects on feed efficiency (Charal et al., 2016).

Organic acids have also been used extensively as feed supplements. They can cause a drop in pH in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby counter microbes. They are therefore regarded as an alternative to the growth-accelerating antibiotics that are used in pigs (Canibe et al., 2005). Additionally, they play a role in reducing the harmful microbial ratio in the gastrointestinal tract (0verland et al., 2008).

Charcoal could also increase growth rate and diet efficiency, and decrease noxious gas emissions and the number of harmful microbes in finishing pigs (Chu et al., 2013).

In preliminary attempts, these improvements were made successfully by feeding essential oils (thymol and carvacrol) or probiotics (Varel, 2002). Furthermore, probiotics were regarded as common supplements for such improvements. NH₃ concentration was decreased dramatically on feeding probiotics (Philippe et al., 2011). Consequently, all these substances were demonstrated to be effective for odour reduction. Although all the substances were proved to be essential for odour elimination, there has not been an analytical comparison of them.

In this research, the authors therefore performed a comparative analysis of the substances that cause environmental and social problems associated with malodours from pigsties.

 

Materials and methods

Two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 was a feeding trial. A total of 75 (Landrace X Yorkshire) X Duroc pigs with average initial BW of 26 ± 1 kg were used. The experiment was assigned to three pigs/pen and five pen/treatments. The experiment was conducted over six weeks. Each pen was equipped with a one-sided stainless-steel self-feeder and a nipple drinker, which allowed pigs ad libitum access to feed and water. The basal diet consisted of maize (57.71 %), soybean meal (32.45 %), and wheat bran (5 %) (Table 1). Treatments consisted of i) CON, control diet; ii) OE (Aviplus-S^®), CON + 0.05 % OE; iii) OC (Olga Black^®), CON + 0.1% OC; iv) AE (RESQ^®), CON + 0.015 % AE; and v) PB (Bonvital^®), CON + 0.1 % PB.

Experiment 2 was a metabolic trial. A total of 25 (LandraceX Yorkshire)X Duroc pigs were used with average initial BW of 36 ± 1 kg. The experiment was conducted in five repetitions of six days each. After five days' adaptation, a three-day period followed, during which faeces were collected. The pigs were isolated in 1.2 m x 0.7 m x 0.96 m stainless steel metabolic cages. Diets were fed at 08:00 and 18:00 hours. The composition of the basal diet used in experiment 2 was the same as that in Experiment 1.

In the feeding trial, feed and water intake was allowed without restriction, with the amount of feed provided and amount remaining being recorded. Pig BW was measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. Nutrient digestibility was analysed on the final day of the experiment and 0.2 % chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃) was added to the diets as an indigestible marker. After giving the chromium diet for one day, fresh excreta samples were collected for two days.

To collect blood samples from the pigs, the cervical vein artery was utilized, while pigs were fixed by a nose holder, and blood samples were collected one day before end of experiment. Faeces were collected through anal massage. After collection, fresh faeces were stored in a refrigerator at -20 °C. In addition, 300 g faeces samples were collected from each pen once a week. Faeces and urine excreted on sawdust were mixed with sawdust. A total of 200 g mixed samples were collected and fermented. Treated samples were then stored in 4.2 L plastic boxes. The samples were fermented for 72 hours at 33 °C under room conditions.

The metabolic trial enabled water intake without restriction. Daily feed intake was 4% of weight, and the remaining amount was recorded to calculate feed intake. Faeces and urine samples were withdrawn from the metabolic cages. Hydrogen chloride (25 mL of 6 M) was added to a plastic box. After that, the urine samples were poured into the plastic box to prevent volatilization of urinary nitrogen. The weight of total mixed samples was measured. To further analysis, fresh urine samples were stored in a refrigerator at -4 °C. To analyse odours, samples were stored in 4.2 L plastic boxes to ferment the samples. Each box contained 200 g, namely faeces: 200 g; and faeces + urine: 100 g + 100 g.

Growth performance in ADG, G : F, and ADFI was measured. Pig BW was measured on the initial and last days of the experiment. Individual and feed intake were recorded every day to determine ADG, ADFI, and G : F ratio.

Before determining nutrient digestibility, faeces were dried in the drying oven (70 °C) for 72 hours and powdered. After that, DM and CP were analysed. The apparent digestibility of DM was calculated using indirect ratio methods with the following formula:

Coefficient of apparent total tract digestibility = {1 - [(Nf ₓ Cd) / (Nd ₓ Cf)]}

where: Nf = nutrient concentration in faeces (% DM)

Nd = nutrient concentration in diet (% DM)

Cf = chromium concentration in faeces (% DM)

Cd = chromium concentration in faeces (% DM) (Yan & Kim, 2011).

Nutrient digestibility was analysed as described in the aOaC (2000) procedures.

Blood samples were acquired from the cervical vein into K3EDTA vacuum tubes and Z Serum Sep Clot Activator vacuum tubes (Becton Dickinson Vacutainer System, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA). The analysis was done intermittently at either 24 hours or 72 hours. Blood profile BUN, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and glucose were analysed. BUN counts were determined with an automatic blood analyser (ADIVA 120, Bayer, NY) in the serum. HDL and LDL were analysed with an automatic biochemical analyser (RA-1000, Bayer Corp, Tarrytown, NY, USA).

The malodour-causing materials (NH3, H2S, and VFAs) were analysed with a gas tech detection tube. Malodour analysis was achieved by dividing the three cases, namely only faecal; faecal and urine; and faecal, urine, and sawdust. After sampling, various chemicals, including NH3, H2S, and volatile fatty acids, were detected using Gastec GV-110S gas detection machine and tube namely, NH3 detector tube No. 3L, H₂S detector tube No. 4LL, volatile fatty acid detector tube No. 81L (Gastec Corp, Kanagawa, Japan).

Data were analysed with the GLM procedures of SAS (2008) as a randomized complete block design. The pen was used as the experimental unit. The means of the treatments were compared with Turkey's multiple range test with P <0.05 indicating significance.

 

Results

Growth performance is provided in Table 2. ADG and G : F were significantly higher in the OE and AE groups than in the others (P <0.05). ADFI for OE, OC, and AE treatments was significantly higher than those for the CON and PB treatments (P <0.05).

Nutrient digestibility results are provided in Table 3. DM digestibility was significantly higher in AE than CON, and CP was significantly higher in OE, AE, and PB than CON (P <0.05).

The results of blood analysis are provided in Table 4. CON and other treatments did not have significant differences in blood profiles of parameters such as BUN, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, or glucose (P >0.05).

Malodour emissions in the feeding trial are provided in Table 5. NH3 emissions were significantly lower in the treated groups than in CON (P < 0.05). H₂S emissions were significantly lower in OE, AE, and PB than in CON (P < 0.05). The emissions of VFAs showed no significant differences between treatments and CON.

The malodour emission findings in the metabolic trial are provided in Tables 6 and 7. NH3 emissions in Table 6 were significantly higher in CON than in other treatment groups (P <0.05). Among the treatments, NH3 emissions were lowest in OE and AE. H2S emissions were significantly lower than CON in OE and AE treatments (P <0.05). Emissions of VFAs did not differ significantly between the treatments and CON (P >0.05).

NH₃ emissions in Table 7 were significantly lower in the treatments with additives than in CON (P <0.05). However, H₂S and VFA emissions did not differ significantly between the treatments and CON.

 

Discussion

In this study, it was demonstrated that most of the additives OE, OC, and AE enhanced the growth performance. Among them, essential oils proved best in terms of growth performance. In addition, the values of BW, ADG, ADFI, and G : F were improved significantly by dietary supplementation with OE and AE. In a previous study, supplementation of vanillin (essential oil) increased feed intake and growth performance (Gallage et al., 2014). In addition, the essential oils were beneficial in increasing feed intake, digestive secretions, and immune stimulation, and enhancing anti-bacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant characteristics (Wenk, 2003).

The effects of AE on nutrient digestibility and DM digestibility were statistically significant. Furthermore, the OE, AE, and PB treatments led to statistically significant changes in the digestibility of CP. In another study, supplementing the diet with an essential oil increased the digestibility of CP and amino acids (Maenner et al., 2011). In the treatment, OE increased the growth performance and nutrient digestibility in finishing pigs. Moreover, other studies have suggested that essential oils improved growth performance, measured in terms of BW, ADG, ADFI, and G : F, because they stimulated intestinal enzymes, leading to increased nutrient digestibility, balance of microbiota, and feed intake (Huang et al., 2010; Li et al., 2012b; Lan et al., 2016). Additionally, a previous study revealed that a microencapsulated feed containing organic acids and essential oil added to finishing pig diet could increase growth performance, nutrient digestibility of DM, and energy (Cho et al., 2014). More recently, lactic acid bacteria were proved to be effective in this regard. Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134, a lactic acid bacterium, showed beneficial effects on the apparent ileal digestibility of CP and amino acid, and on intestinal health (Zhang & Kim, 2015).

In this study, blood profiles did not differ significantly in the treatments. In addition, in a previous study, some immunological substances in the blood were increased, but the characteristics of BUN, LDL, and HDL were not altered significantly (Cho et al., 2006). Furthermore, sows increased some immune substances in serum, and ADFI and ADG of growth performance were enhanced in the sow and nursing piglets (Wang et al., 2015).

The current study also demonstrated an excellent effect on growth performance and reduction of malodour. In this study, OE and AE showed a similar effect in reducing the production of H2S. The emission of NH3 and thus malodour was decreased in the treatment with essential oil, and in the treatment with a combination of PB and OC. However, H2S emission was not affected significantly by the essential oil treatment (P <0.05). The production of VFAs was not significantly different (P >0.05). However, in a previous study it was shown that the blend of OA and nature identical compounds included in OE increased its antimicrobial effect, leading to a reduction in the concentration of VFAs (Grilli et al., 2010). Besides, the decrease ileum digestibility promoted by essential oil supplementation was caused by instantaneous decrease in the caecal VFA concentrations, especially in diets containing 18% CP (Manzanilla et al., 2009). Thus, the effect of reduction of the VFAs by essential oils has already been demonstrated. Therefore, there is a need for further research into the effects of essential oils on the concentration of VFAs.

In summary, essential oil was most effective among the additives. It is potentially good at reducing malodour. Moreover, the animal husbandry industry has recently faced problems in using antibiotics. The results of previous studies suggest that essential oils could function as a replacement for antibiotics. The volatile compounds in essential oils suppress the growth of bacterial pathogens, could be a source of metabolites with antibacterial activity, and could be used as alternatives to antibiotic therapy against these pathogens (Rodrigues et al., 2009). In the near future, essential oils are expected to be used as a good alternative for reducing malodours and improving the growth performance of pigs.

 

Conclusions

In this study, adding various additives (OE, OC, AE, and PB) to the diets of finishing pigs was demonstrated to be effective in removing malodour and improving growth performance. The results were that the treatments with additives, in terms of NH3 and H2S production were significantly lower than the CON except for some OC items. Among them, OE and AE had an excellent effect on odor reduction. Consequently, in this experiment, OE and AE were shown to be more effective in growth performance, nutrient digestibility and malodour emission than other additives.

Acknowledgments

This work was carried out with the support of Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project No. PJ012067) Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

Authors' Contributions

J.H. Cho oversaw project design. W. Yun and Shudong Liu supervised the course of the study. J.H. Lee, C.H. Lee, S.Y. Oh, H.J. Oh, I.H. Park, Y.H. Kim, J.C. Park, and G.S. Kim oversaw sample collecting and participated in results and statistics. W.G. Kwak wrote the manuscript and revised it.

Conflict of Interest Declaration

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

 

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Received 23 February 2017
Accepted 12 April 2017
First published online 28 June 2017

 

 

* These authors contributed equally to this work.
# Corresponding author: jinhcho@cbnu.ac.kr