β-glucan from mulberry leaves and curcuma can improve growth performance and nutrient digestibility in early weaned pigs

We investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of β-glucans from mulberry leaves and curcuma on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, and characteristics of faeces in weaned pigs. A total of 75 crossbred weaned pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with an average body weight (BW) of 8.48 ± 1.65 kg was used in a 5 wk trial. The pigs were sorted into pens with five pigs per pens and five pens per treatments. Treatments were (1) a corn-soybean meal-based control, (2) 0.1% β-glucans from mulberry leaves, and (3) 0.1% β-glucans from curcuma. Pigs fed β-glucans from mulberry leaves and curcuma had higher average daily gain (ADG) and gain/feed intake ratio (G/F) than control. On digestibility, pigs fed β-glucans from mulberry leaves and curcuma had higher on digestibility of dry matter (DM) and energy than corn-soybean meal-based control during 2 weeks. No significant differences were observed on blood characteristics and faecal microflora, score, moisture, and pH among treatments. Difference of mulberry leaves and curcuma was not observed on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, and characteristics of faeces. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of β-glucan from mulberry leaves and curcuma can improve ADG, G/F, and dry matter and energy of nutrient digestibility in weaned pigs. Therefore, β-glucans can use as antibiotics alternatives, improving the productivity.