Effects of Acalypha australis extract on growth performance, blood biochemical indicators and intestinal flora of piglets

Lin Zhongning;Li Zhaolong;Lu zheng;Yang Youquan;Xiao Xuekui;Agricultural Ecology Institute, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences;Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Hilly Grassland;Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences;

Acalypha australis extract;;Piglets;;Growth performance;;Blood biochemical indicators;;Intestinal flora

To revealed the effects of Acalypha australis extract on growth performance, blood biochemical indicators and fecal-like flora of piglets, 120 Duroc-landrace-yorkshire weaned piglets, 25-day-old, healthy, mean weight(9.60±0.65)kg, were randomly divided into four groups(Acalypha australis extract groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ, antibiotic groups and control groups) with three replicates each; The treat groups(groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ)were fed with Acalypha australis extract 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg Acalypha australis diet, the antibiotic group added 75 mg/kg of dietary chlortetracycline to the basal diet, and the control group was fed the basal diet for 28 days, detection and analysis the effect of the addition of Acalypha australis extract in the basic diet on the daily weight gain, meat ratio, diarrhea rate,blood biochemical indicators, intestinal flora in piglets. The results shown that Acalypha australis extract can substitute antibiotics as feed additives for piglets, which promotes growth, enhances immunity and prevention and treatment diarrhea,while increasing the number of Lactobacillus in intestinal flora and inhibiting the number of harmful bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella.