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

Figures & data

Table 1. Feed compositions of control diet (as-fed basis).

Item	Phase I (d1–d14)	Phase II (d15–d35)
Ingredient, %
Extruded corn	44.49	61.97
Soybean meal (48% CP)	21.20	27.80
Fish meal (66% CP)	3.50	–
Soy oil	2.55	1.05
Lactose	8.30	–
Whey	10.00	5.00
Monocalcium phosphate	–	–
Decalcium phosphate	1.50	1.50
Sugar	3.00	–
Plasma powder (AP 920)	3.00	–
L-Lysin HCl	0.39	0.46
DL-Methionine	0.30	0.24
L-Threonine	0.19	0.20
Choline chloride	0.10	0.10
Vitamin^a	0.10	0.10
Mineral^b	0.20	0.20
Limestone	0.98	1.13
Salt	0.20	0.25
Total	100	100
Calculated content, %
ME, kcal/kg	3540	3410
CP	20.00	19.00
Lys	1.50	1.35
Met	0.62	0.53
Met + Cys	0.97	0.84
Ca	0.95	0.90
Total P	0.75	0.70
Avail P	0.55	0.43
Crude fat	5.02	3.98
Crude fibre	1.87	2.45

^aProvided per kg of complete diet: vitamin A, 11,025 IU; vitamin D3, 1103 IU; vitamin E, 44 IU; vitamin K, 4.4 mg; riboflavin, 8.3 mg; niacin, 50 mg; thiamine, 4 mg; pantothenic acid, 29 mg; choline, 166 mg; and vitamin B12, 33 μg.

^bProvided per kg of complete diet: Cu, 12 mg; Zn, 85 mg; Mn, 8 mg; I, 0.28 mg; and Se, 0.15 mg.

Table 2. The effects of β-glucan from mulberry leaves and curcuma on growth performance in weaning pigs.

Items	Control	β-glucan sources		SEM	Contrast
		Mulberry leaves	Curcuma		Control vs. β-glucans	Mulberry leaves vs. curcuma
Phase 1 (d1–d14)
ADG, g	267	286	307	10.18	0.041	0.170
ADFI, g	330	334	340	7.81	0.481	0.604
G/F	0.809	0.856	0.903	0.02	0.007	0.057
Phase 2 (d15–d35)
ADG, g	444	493	510	34.01	0.199	0.730
ADFI, g	865	905	917	48.58	0.457	0.868
G/F	0.513	0.545	0.556	0.03	0.293	0.919
Overall (d1–d35)
ADG, g	373	410	429	23.01	0.133	0.576
ADFI, g	651	677	686	30.97	0.441	0.834
G/F	0.573	0.606	0.625	0.03	0.176	0.693

Table 3. The effects of mulberry leaves and curcuma on nutrient digestibility in weaning pigs.

Items	Control	β-glucan sources		SEM	Contrast
		Mulberry leaves	Curcuma		Control vs. β-glucans	Mulberry leaves vs. curcuma
2 weeks
DM, %	80.5	81.7	83.4	0.65	0.026	0.090
N, %	79.7	80.2	82.9	1.22	0.246	0.145
Energy, %	80.9	81.9	83.2	0.61	0.046	0.183
5 weeks
DM, %	80.1	81.9	83.0	0.11	0.098	0.493
N, %	79.7	81.7	83.1	1.58	0.174	0.543
Energy, %	80.2	82.3	83.4	1.12	0.071	0.496

Table 4. The effects of β-glucan from mulberry leaves and curcuma on blood characteristics in weaning pigs.

Items	Control	β-glucan sources		SEM	Contrast
		Mulberry leaves	Curcuma		Control vs. β-glucans	Mulberry leaves vs. curcuma
Lymphocyte, %
0 week	46.8	45.8	46.1	4.34	0.875	0.972
2 weeks	58.0	58.6	55.4	3.46	0.819	0.524
5 week	60.8	62.6	60.0	2.54	0.633	0.866
RBC, 10^6/ul
0 week	6.3	6.2	6.2	0.13	0.747	0.873
2 weeks	6.0	5.9	6.1	0.13	0.964	0.490
5 weeks	6.2	6.2	6.2	0.12	0.878	0.701
WBC,10^3/ul
0 weeks	12.7	12.6	12.2	0.90	0.810	0.765
2 weeks	16.0	14.1	14.4	1.52	0.380	0.896
5 weeks	18.5	20.6	20.2	0.91	0.129	0.762

Table 5. The effects of β-glucan from mulberry leaves and curcuma on characterization of feces (score, moisture, pH, and microflora) in weaning pigs.

Items	Control	β-glucan sources		SEM	Contrast
		Mulberry leaves	Curcuma		Control vs. β-glucans	Mulberry leaves vs. curcuma
Faecal score ^a	3.2	3.1	3.1	0.04	0.351	0.216
Moisture, %
2 weeks	69.7	69.7	70.3	1.47	0.882	0.810
5 weeks	68.6	68.1	70.0	1.02	0.738	0.229
pH
2 weeks	6.1	6.1	6.1	0.03	0.751	0.312
5 weeks	5.9	5.8	5.8	0.05	0.312	0.218
Faecal microflora
2 weeks
Lactobacillus	7.5	7.6	7.5	0.06	0.290	0.375
E. coli	6.7	6.9	6.8	0.05	0.107	0.755
5 weeks
Lactobacillus	7.6	7.7	7.6	0.05	0.272	0.386
E. coli	6.7	6.8	6.8	0.05	0.106	0.769

^a Faecal score ranges from 1 to 5, with 1 = hard and dry pellet but small mass, 2 = hard and formed stool, 3 = soft and formed stool but moist, 4 = soft and unformed stool, and 5 = watery and liquid stool.