Effects of dietary supplementation of fermented garlic powder on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility, blood characteristics and faecal microbial concentration in weanling pigs

Allicin in pregnancy diets modulates steroid metabolism in pregnant sows and placental sulphate metabolism promoting placental angiogenesis and foetal development

The low-birth-weight of piglets is an important factor affecting pig enterprises. The placenta, as a key organ for material exchange between mother and foetus, directly influences the growth and development of the foetus. Allicin exhibits various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It may also play a crucial role in enhancing sow reproductive performance and placental angiogenesis. In this study, we used 70 lactating Landrace × Yorkshire binary heterozygous sows to explore the effect of allicin on the reproductive performance of sows and placental development. The sows were randomly assigned into the Allicin group (Allicin), which was fed with a diet containing 0.25% allicin, and the negative control group, which was fed with basal feed. The experimental period lasted for 114 d from the date of mating to the end of farrowing. The results showed that the addition of allicin to the gestation diets increased the number of total born piglets, born alive piglets, and high-birth-weight piglets, reduced peripartum oxidative stress, alleviated dysregulation of glucose-lipid metabolism in sows, and increased the levels of antioxidant markers in the placenta. Differential analysis of metabolites in maternal plasma and placenta samples by non-targeted metabolomics revealed that allicin improved cholesterol metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, and increased plasma progesterone levels in sows. Allicin promoted sulphur metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism in placental samples and increased the hydrogen sulphide (H2S) content in the placenta. In addition, Quantitative Real-time PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence results showed that allicin upregulated the expression of angiogenesis-related genes, VEGF-A, FLK 1 and Ang 1, in the placenta, implying that it promoted placental angiogenesis. These results indicate that supplementing the diet of pregnant sows with allicin reduces oxidative stress, alleviates dysregulation of glucose-lipid metabolism during the periparturient period, and promotes placental angiogenesis and foetal development by increasing plasma progesterone level and placental H2S content.

Regional variation in the antibacterial activity of a wild plant, wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.)

Antibacterial activity is a common and highly studied property of plant secondary metabolites. Despite the extensive literature focusing on identifying novel antibacterial metabolites, little work has been undertaken to examine variation in levels of antibacterial activity in any plant species. Here, we used large-scale sampling of leaves of the antibacterial plant, wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.), assembling a set of tissue extracts from 168 plants, with 504 leaves collected and analysed. We assayed extracts for antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and used LC-MS to carry out a chemometric analysis examining variation in individual metabolites, comparing them with several ecological parameters. We found that allicin was the only metabolite which was positively related to antibacterial activity. Soil temperature was a key determinant of variability in the concentrations of many foliar metabolites, however, neither allicin concentrations nor antibacterial activity was related to any of our measured ecological parameters, other than roadside proximity. We suggest that the synthesis of allicin precursors may be largely independent of growing conditions. This may be to ensure that allicin is synthesised rapidly and in sufficiently high concentrations to effectively prevent herbivory and pest damage. This finding contrasts with flavonoids which were found to vary greatly between plants and across sites. Our findings suggest that key biologically active metabolites are constrained in their concentration range compared to other compounds in the metabolome. This has important implications for the development of wild garlic as a health supplement or animal feed additive.

Effects of medicinal plants mixture on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and fecal microbiota in growing pigs

Background and Aim

Alternative natural materials to antibiotics for improving digestive health and growth performance are needed due to strengthening regulations related to the use of antibiotic growth promoters. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of medicinal plants mixture (60% Bidens pilosa L., 15% Urena lobata L., 15% Pseuderanthemum palatiferum, 5% Ramulus cinnamomi, and 5% Star anise) as alternative growth promotors on animal health, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and growth performance of growing pigs.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted, from April 2020 to June 2020, at a private pig production farm located in Cam Giang district Hai Duong Province, Vietnam. Forty-eight 10-week-old crossbred (♂Duroc×♀ [Landrace×Yorkshire]) pigs, average initial body weight 30.3±1.42 kg, were randomly allocated to four dietary groups, three replicate pens per experimental group, with 4 pigs/pen. For 7 weeks, the pigs were fed a basal diet supplemented with the mixture at levels of 0, 20, 40, and 60 g/kg of feed.

Results

Final body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, as well as apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, and gross energy were not significantly influenced by the diets (p>0.05). Inclusion of the plant mixture decreased significantly red blood cell count, blood cholesterol, urea nitrogen, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations (p<0.05) compared with the control diet. No diet effect was observed on fecal Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Clostridium spp., and total bacteria counts.

Conclusion

The incorporation of the plant mixture into the diet of growing pigs reduced serum cholesterol, LDL, and urea concentrations with no adverse effect on performance and nutrient digestibility.

The nutritional applications of garlic (Allium sativum) as natural feed additives in animals

Garlic (Allium sativum) is an essential vegetable that has been widely utilized as seasoning, flavoring, culinary and in herbal remedies. Garlic contains several characteristic organosulfur compounds, such as diallyl sulfide, allicin (diallyl thiosulphate), γ-glutamylcysteine, and S-allyl cysteine (alliin) and ajoene, which garlic has beneficial effects on inflammation, oxidative stress markers, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and endothelial function in vitro or in animal model. These bioactive molecules are also playing pivotal role in livestock and fisheries production apart from its application in humans. Supplementation of animal feed with garlic and its related products is consistent with the modern agricultural concept of organic animal husbandry. This review compiles the information describing the effects of feeding garlic and its extracts on selected performance parameters in animals (chicken, rabbits, ruminants, pigs and fish). This review may provide reference for scientists and entrepreneurs to investigate the applications of feeds added with garlic and allicin by-products for the improvement of animal husbandry and aquatic production.

Overall assessment of antibiotic substitutes for pigs: a set of meta-analyses

Background

Antibiotic growth promoters are widely used to improve weight gain. However, the abuse of antibiotics can have many negative effects on people. Developing alternatives to antibiotics is an urgent need in livestock production. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis and network meta-analysis (NMA) to investigate the effects of feed additives as potential antibiotic substitutes (ASs) on bacteriostasis, growth performance, intestinal morphology and immunity. Furthermore, the primary, secondary, and tertiary ASs were defined by comparing their results with the results of antibiotics.

Results

Among 16,309 identified studies, 37 were summarized to study the bacteriostasis effects of feed additives, and 89 were included in the meta-analysis and NMA (10,228 pigs). We summarized 268 associations of 57 interventions with 32 bacteria. The order of bacteriostasis effects was as follows: antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) ≈ antibiotics>organic acids>plant extracts>oligosaccharides. We detected associations of 11 feed additives and 11 outcomes. Compared with a basal diet, plant extract, AMPs, probiotics, microelements, organic acids, bacteriophages, lysozyme, zymin, and oligosaccharides significantly improved growth performance (P < 0.05); organic acids, probiotics, microelements, lysozyme, and AMPs remarkably increased the villus height:crypt depth ratio (V/C) (P < 0.05); and plant extracts, zymin, microelements, probiotics, and organic acids notably improved immunity (P < 0.05). The optimal AMP, bacteriophage, lysozyme, microelements, oligosaccharides, organic acids, plants, plant extracts, probiotics, and zymin doses were 0.100%, 0.150%, 0.012%, 0.010%, 0.050%, 0.750%, 0.20%, 0.040%, 0.180%, and 0.100%, respectively. Compared with antibiotics, all investigated feed additives exhibited no significant difference in effects on growth performance, IgG, and diarrhoea index/rate (P > 0.05); AMPs and microelements significantly increased V/C (P < 0.05); and zymin significantly improved lymphocyte levels (P < 0.05). Furthermore, linear weighting sum models were used to comprehensively estimate the overall impact of each feed additive on pig growth and health.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that AMPs and plant extracts can be used as primary ASs for weaned piglets and growing pigs, respectively. Bacteriophages, zymin, plants, probiotics, oligosaccharides, lysozyme, and microelements can be regarded as secondary ASs. Nucleotides and organic acids can be considered as tertiary ASs. Future studies should further assess the alternative effects of combinational feed additives.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Garlic and Oregano Essential Oil on Biomarkers of Oxidative Status, Stress and Inflammation in Postweaning Piglets

The effects of two different concentrations of micro capsuled oregano essential oil (OEO) and purple garlic powder on biomarkers of oxidative status, stress, and inflammation, as well as on average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), were evaluated in piglets during the postweaning period. The trial was carried out with 300 crossbred pigs of 21 days of age fed with different concentrations of OEO and purple garlic powder and ZnO. Saliva and serum samples were taken to evaluate a panel of biomarkers of oxidative status, stress, and inflammation. OEO and garlic powder at 0.4% did not produce significant changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) and cortisol and yielded higher levels of the antioxidant biomarker CUPRAC in serum than higher doses (p < 0.01); they yielded a better ADG than the control and ZnO diets. OEO and garlic powder at higher concentrations than 0.4% showed higher concentrations of CRP (p < 0.05). Overall, doses of OEO and garlic powder at 0.4% did not lead to inflammation, stress, or negative changes in oxidative biomarkers in piglets during the postweaning period and gave better productive performance than the control and ZnO diets. High doses of OEO and garlic powder were ineffective and could negatively affect the animals. Therefore, our results highlight the importance of the dose used when OEO or garlic are supplemented to piglets.

Overall assessment of fermented feed for pigs: a series of meta-analyses

As an alternative to antimicrobial growth promoters, fermented feed (FF) has been continuously developed for two decades; however, its effects on feed, performance, digestibility, and meat quality of pigs have yet to be systematically and comprehensively evaluated. This study aimed to (i) quantitatively evaluate the effects of fermentation on nutritional components of feed stuffs; (ii) quantitatively evaluate the effects of FF on pig growth performance, digestibility, and meat quality; and (iii) explore the dose-effect relationship. From PubMed and Web of Science (searched range from January 1, 2000 to April 4, 2019), we collected 3,271 articles, of which 30 articles (3,562 pigs) were included in our meta-analysis. Our analysis revealed that fermentation significantly increased the CP content in feed (P < 0.05). For weaned piglets and growing pigs, FF significantly improved ADG, G:F, DM digestibility, N digestibility, and energy digestibility (P < 0.05). However, compared with the basal diet, FF had no significant effects on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in finishing pigs (P > 0.05). In the subgroup analyses, fermented ingredients increased the growth performance of weaned piglets and growing pigs, and fermented additives promoted the growth of pigs at all stages. The dose-effect analysis confirmed that the optimal doses of fermented ingredients and additives were 8% and 0.15%, respectively. Furthermore, FF had beneficial impacts on meat quality through increased lightness, redness, marbling and flavor and reduced drip loss (P < 0.05). In conclusions, FF improved growth performance and meat quality primarily due to its positive effects on nutritive value and utilization.

Effect of dietary supplementation of fermented garlic by Leuconostoc mesenteroides KCCM35046, on growth performance, blood constituents, nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, and fecal scores in sows and their piglets

Eighteen lactating sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were used in an experiment to determine the effects of fermented garlic by Leuconostoc mesenteroides KCCM35046 on growth performance, blood constituents, nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, and fecal scores in sows and their piglets. The experiment was started before farrowing 30 d to weaning, and sows were randomly assigned to the following dietary treatments: control basal diet (CON) and the CON + 0.1% or 0.2% fermented garlic (FG). During the lactation period, sows had free access to feed and water. At farrowing day and weaning (day 28), body weight (BW) loss of sows reduced linearly (P = 0.042; P = 0.006, respectively) in FG diets. There was a linear improvement in piglets’ BW with increasing dietary FG levels at weaning (P = 0.033). Piglets fed the diets with the FG linearly increased the average daily gain (ADG) at the 3rd and 4th weeks (P = 0.041; P = 0.002, respectively). Overall, the ADG of piglets linearly increased when lactating sows fed the diets with FG supplementation (P = 0.004). Red blood cell concentrations linearly decreased (P = 0.004) in sows fed dietary FG supplementation at the weaning day. Dietary inclusion of the FG tended to increase the fecal Lactobacillus population and decrease Escherichia coli population of piglets at weanling day (P = 0.075; P = 0.051, respectively). In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that dietary supplementation of FG (0.1% and 0.2%) improved growth performance in sows and their piglets.

Placebo-controlled study on the effects of oral administration of Allium sativum L in postweaning piglets

Postweaning diarrhoea (PWD) due to Escherichia coli is an economically important disease in pig production. In this placebo-controlled study performed in Switzerland, the effects of oral supplementation of Allium sativum L. (garlic, AS) on performance (bodyweight (BW) and daily weight gain (DWG)) and health (body condition and clinical score) were investigated in postweaning piglets. Piglets (n=600) were randomly assigned to the treatment groups (placebo, AS or colistin) and observed from birth until three weeks postweaning. The treatments were administered for the first two weeks postweaning. Faecal dry matter (FDM) and coliform bacteria on pen level were measured weekly. Data were analysed using generalised mixed-effect models in R. BW and DWG of the AS group were significantly higher compared with placebo in the third week postweaning. No differences in body condition and FDM were observed. The clinical score of AS-treated animals was significantly better compared with the colistin group. About 33 per cent of the piglets of the AS and the placebo group had to be treated with antibiotics due to the occurrence of severe PWD. The major finding of this study showed that AS supplementation increased growth performance and improved clinical health, but did not reduce the incidence and severity of PWD.

Medicinal plants--prophylactic and therapeutic options for gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets? A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets lead to significant economic losses in livestock husbandry. A high morbidity has been reported for diarrhea (calves ≤ 35%; piglets ≤ 50%) and for respiratory diseases (calves ≤ 80%; piglets ≤ 40%). Despite a highly diverse etiology and pathophysiology of these diseases, treatment with antimicrobials is often the first-line therapy. Multi-antimicrobial resistance in pathogens results in international accordance to strengthen the research in novel treatment options. Medicinal plants bear a potential as alternative or additional treatment. Based on the versatile effects of their plant specific multi-component-compositions, medicinal plants can potentially act as 'multi-target drugs'. Regarding the plurality of medicinal plants, the aim of this systematic review was to identify potential medicinal plant species for prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases and for modulation of the immune system and inflammation in calves and piglets.

RESULTS

Based on nine initial sources including standard textbooks and European ethnoveterinary studies, a total of 223 medicinal plant species related to the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases was identified. A defined search strategy was established using the PRISMA statement to evaluate 30 medicinal plant species starting from 20'000 peer-reviewed articles published in the last 20 years (1994-2014). This strategy led to 418 references (257 in vitro, 84 in vivo and 77 clinical trials, thereof 48 clinical trials in veterinary medicine) to evaluate effects of medicinal plants and their efficacy in detail. The findings indicate that the most promising candidates for gastrointestinal diseases are Allium sativum L., Mentha x piperita L. and Salvia officinalis L.; for diseases of the respiratory tract Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH, Thymus vulgaris L. and Althea officinalis L. were found most promising, and Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH, Camellia sinensis (L.) KUNTZE, Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and Origanum vulgare L. were identified as best candidates for modulation of the immune system and inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

Several medicinal plants bear a potential for novel treatment strategies for young livestock. There is a need for further research focused on gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets, and the findings of this review provide a basis on plant selection for future studies.