Vol. 12, Special Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
M Lavanya, D Suresh Babu, J Suresh, B Punya Kumari, GV Bhaskar Reddy, N Sai Anjana, Bhaskar Ganguly and Shreya Gupta

Abstract:
The present investigation entitled “Evaluation of herbal anti-stressors and growth promoters on the performance of crossbred weaned pigs” was conducted on 30 crossbred (Large White Yorkshire) male pigs by dividing into five groups of six pigs each. Each group was allotted to one of the five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD). Treatment-0 (T₀ control) comprised of concentrate feed mixture (CFM) without any herbal supplementation. Treatment 1 (T₁) consisted of CFM with Restobal at 15 ml per day for ten days in a month. Treatment 2 (T₂) included CFM with 250 g/tonne of feed of the Stresomix polyherbal supplement. Treatment 3 (T₃) included CFM and 500 g/tonne of feed of the polyherbal supplement Ruchamax. Treatment 4 (T₄) included CFM and a 500 g/tonne of feed Nbiotic polyherbal supplement. The pigs were fed as per requirement of NRC (2012) during grower and finisher phases. During the experiment, the daily feed intake and weekly body weight were recorded. The overall growth performance (11-70 kg) of control (T₀) and experimental groups (T₁ to T₄) revealed that among all experimental groups of pigs, pigs fed with Stresomix (T₂) attained 70 kg body weight in 143 days only followed by T₃ groups in 151 days, T₄, T₁ and T₀ groups in 152, 156, 170 days, respectively. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference among the experimental groups (T₀ to T₄) in the initial and final weights as well as body weight gain. The average daily gain (ADG) was significantly (p<0.05) higher in polyherbal supplemented groups (T₁ to T₄) when compared to control (T₀). The feed consumption was significantly (p<0.05) higher and feed consumed/kg gain was significantly (p<0.05) lower in T₂ compared to T₀ and there was no significant (p>0.05) difference among other treatment groups.