The effect of thyme herb in diets for fattening pigs on their growth performance and health. 2023

Anna Czech, and Kamila Klimiuk, and Iwona Sembratowicz
Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland.

To enrich pork with valuable n-3 PUFA, it is common practice to include flaxseeds in the swine diet. However, due to the high susceptibility of these acids to oxidation, this treatment requires an additional supply of antioxidants. Thyme herb can be used for this purpose, which in addition to high antioxidant activity is characterized by numerous health-promoting properties. The present study aimed at evaluating the impact of the inclusion of 1% and 3% of thyme herb in mixtures with 4% of extruded flaxseeds as a source of n-3 PUFA on the performance results and health status of fatteners. The experiment was carried out on 120 weaners with an initial body weight of about 30 kg and kept until the end of fattening. They were divided into three experimental groups of 40 animals each (5 pens with 8 pigs in each). The control group (C) consisted of pigs receiving a base mixture with 4% of extruded flaxseeds. In the experimental groups, an additional 1% (T1) or 3% (T3) of thyme herb was added to the mixture. By supplementing the diet with 3% of thyme, an increase in average daily weight gain (P = 0.001) and a better feed conversion ratio (P < 0.001) were obtained. This could be the result of an improvement in the small intestine histology (greater villus height-P < 0.001) and better digestibility of basic nutrients (especially crude protein-P < 0.05) found in experimental animals. In addition to these effects, thyme herb supplementation contributed to the stimulation of immune mechanisms (increase in the number of WBC-P ≤ 0.05; plasma IgA - P < 0.05 and IgG-P < 0.005, and the level of lysozyme-P < 0.05). The obtained results indicate the advisability of the use of thyme as a feed additive beneficially influencing the health and performance results in pigs. The obtained results indicate the advisability of the use of thyme as a feed additive beneficially influencing the health and performance results in pigs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D004032 Diet Regular course of eating and drinking adopted by a person or animal. Diets
D004063 Digestion The process of breakdown of food for metabolism and use by the body.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000821 Animal Feed Foodstuff used especially for domestic and laboratory animals, or livestock. Fodder,Animal Feeds,Feed, Animal,Feeds, Animal,Fodders
D000824 Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena Nutritional physiology of animals. Animal Nutrition Physiology,Animal Nutritional Physiology Phenomena,Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomenon,Animal Nutritional Physiology,Animal Nutritional Physiology Phenomenon,Veterinary Nutritional Physiology,Nutrition Physiologies, Animal,Nutrition Physiology, Animal,Nutritional Physiology, Animal,Nutritional Physiology, Veterinary,Physiology, Animal Nutrition,Physiology, Animal Nutritional,Physiology, Veterinary Nutritional
D000975 Antioxidants Naturally occurring or synthetic substances that inhibit or retard oxidation reactions. They counteract the damaging effects of oxidation in animal tissues. Anti-Oxidant,Antioxidant,Antioxidant Activity,Endogenous Antioxidant,Endogenous Antioxidants,Anti-Oxidant Effect,Anti-Oxidant Effects,Anti-Oxidants,Antioxidant Effect,Antioxidant Effects,Activity, Antioxidant,Anti Oxidant,Anti Oxidant Effect,Anti Oxidant Effects,Anti Oxidants,Antioxidant, Endogenous,Antioxidants, Endogenous
D013552 Swine Any of various animals that constitute the family Suidae and comprise stout-bodied, short-legged omnivorous mammals with thick skin, usually covered with coarse bristles, a rather long mobile snout, and small tail. Included are the genera Babyrousa, Phacochoerus (wart hogs), and Sus, the latter containing the domestic pig (see SUS SCROFA). Phacochoerus,Pigs,Suidae,Warthogs,Wart Hogs,Hog, Wart,Hogs, Wart,Wart Hog
D015430 Weight Gain Increase in BODY WEIGHT over existing weight. Gain, Weight,Gains, Weight,Weight Gains
D015525 Fatty Acids, Omega-3 A group of unsaturated fatty acids occurring mainly in fish oils, with three double bonds at particular positions in the hydrocarbon chain. N-3 Fatty Acid,Omega-3 Fatty Acid,Omega-3 Fatty Acids,n-3 Fatty Acids,n-3 Oil,n3 Oil,Omega 3 Fatty Acids,n-3 Oils,n-3 PUFA,n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid,n3 Fatty Acid,n3 Oils,n3 PUFA,n3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid,Acid, N-3 Fatty,Acid, Omega-3 Fatty,Fatty Acid, N-3,Fatty Acid, Omega-3,Fatty Acid, n3,N 3 Fatty Acid,Oil, n-3,Oil, n3,Omega 3 Fatty Acid,PUFA, n-3,PUFA, n3,n 3 Fatty Acids,n 3 Oil,n 3 Oils,n 3 PUFA,n 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid

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