Effects Of Bazhen Herbal Medicine On Growth Performance And Intestinal Health Of Weaned Piglets

The intestinal digestive system,antioxidant system and immune system of piglets are not fully developed after weaning,and the external stress factors such as the change of feeding mode,environment,form,and harmful bacteria infestation lead to the serious impact on the health of piglets and greatly reduce the production efficiency of pig industry.Chinese herbal medicine are rich in bioactive substances,which can improve the body’s immunity and regulate the body’s intestinal health This experiment aimed at the physiological problems of weaned piglets such as weak gastrointestinal function and external stress,,added 1% and 3% of Bazhen prescription composed of Lotus seed,Cotonopsis cotonopsis,Coix seed,White lentil bean,Tuckaia,Gorgon Ferox seed,Yam and Jiao sanxian to the diet,respectively,to explore their effects on the growth performance and intestinal health of weaned piglets under normal feeding conditions.This study provides reference for improving the weaning health care technology of piglets,ensuring the healthy breeding of piglets and improving the production efficiency of pigs.In this trial,144 24-day-old DLY weaned piglets were randomly divided into 3experimental groups according to their weight and sex: control group(basal diet),1%Bazhen group(basal diet contain 1% Bazhen prescription),3% Bazhen group(basal diet contain 3% Bazhen prescription),12 replicates for each experimental group and 4pigs each replicate.The trial period was 42 days.The samples were collected at 43 d.The results showed that:(1)Compared with the control group,the 1% Bazhen group had a higher ADG during the 15-42 d(P < 0.05).There was no significant difference in the diarrhea rate of piglets in the three groups during the trial.(2)Compared with the control group,the 1% Bazhen significantly improved the apparent digestibility of DM and GE(P < 0.05),and extremely significantly improved the apparent digestibility of EE and Ash(P < 0.01);The 3% Bazhen significantly improved the apparent digestibility of DM and EE in piglets,and extremely significantly increased the apparent digestibility of Ash(P < 0.01).Compared with the1% Bazhen group,the apparent digestibility of EE in the 3% Bazhen group had a lower EE digestibility(P < 0.05).(3)Compared with the control group,the 3% Bazhen group tended to decrease the serum IL-1β concentration(0.05< P < 0.1).Compared with the 1% Bazhen group,the3% Bazhen group significantly reduced the serum IL-1β concentration in piglets(P <0.05).(4)Compared with the control group,the 1% Bazhen significantly increased the T-AOC activity(P < 0.05)and significantly reduced the MDA content in serum(P <0.05);The 3% Bazhen significantly reduced CAT activity in piglet serum(P < 0.05).Compared to the 1% Bazhen group,the 3% Bazhen group had a lower serum T-AOC activity and a higher serum MDA concentration(P < 0.05).(5)Compared with the control group,the 3% Bazhen significantly increased the villus height in jejunum(P < 0.05).(6)There were no significant differences in T-AOC,CAT and MDA in jejunal mucosa between 1% or 3% Bazhen groups and the control group;Compared with the1% Bazhen group,the colonic mucosa T-AOC activity of piglets in the 3% Bazhen group was significantly increased(P < 0.05).(7)There were no significant differences in the relative expression of m RNA of Occludin,Claudin1,Mucin1,Mucin2 and ZO-1 genes and intestinal permeability in jejunal mucosa between 1% or 3% Bazhen groups and the control group.Taken together,the addition of 1% Bazhen prescription significantly improved ADG,nutrient digestibility and serum antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets;The addition of 3% Bazhen prescription significantly improved nutrient digestibility and promoted intestinal development.Compared with the 1% Bazhen group,the addition of 3% Bazhen prescription reduced the digestibility of crude fat and the serum antioxidant capacity of piglet.