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Recently, it has been proposed a high in vitro antifungal efficiency of bamboo vinegar (BV). Even though the applications of BV in animals have not been vigorously investigated, it was suggested that supplementation with BV could improve the growth performance of monogastric animals. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of BV on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics, fecal microbial shedding, fecal noxious gas contents, and meat quality in finishing pigs. A 42-day trial with 60 [(Landrace x Yorkshire) x Duroc] pigs (79.7±1.42 kg) were used. Pigs were allocated to 1 of 3 treatments with 0, 0.1 (BV1) and 0.2% (BV2) BV supplementation in a randomized complete block design according to sex and BW. Each treatment contained 5 replicates with 4 pigs (2 barrows and 2 gilts) per pen.
Dietary BV (1 and 2) resulted in a greater ADG (P < 0.05) than CON group during 0 to 3 weeks (825 vs. 821 vs. 772 ± 14.1 g) and 0 to 6 weeks (824 vs. 836 vs. 787 ± 12.2 g). During 0 to 6 weeks, pigs fed BV2 diet had a greater G:F ratio than other diets (0.33 vs. 0.34 vs. 0.35 ± 0.007; P = 0.04). The inclusion of BV led to a greater apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter (74.9 and 75.5 ± 1.90%) and nitrogen (76.3 and 77.2 ± 1.80%) than pigs fed CON diet (71 and 73%) at 6 week (P < 0.05). Pig fed BV supplemented diet had a greater lymphocyte percentage than those fed CON diet (59.62 vs. 63.45 vs. 64.90 ± 1.25%; P < 0.001). The fecal E. coli numbers were reduced (6.85 vs. 6.38 vs. 6.05 ± 0.18 log CFU/g of wet digesta; P < 0.05) by increasing BV supplementation. Pigs fed BV2 diet evidenced better meat color and firmness (P < 0.05) than other groups. Pig fed BV2 increased redness values (16.95) (P < 0.05), and reduced the lightness value (42.83) (P < 0.05) compared with CON group (15.73 and 49.13, respectively). Fecal NH3 emission was reduced in a linear fashion (P < 0.05) by dietary BV supplementation on the day 0, 5, and 10. The fecal H2S emission was also descended (P < 0.05) by BV2 treatment on day 5 (2.3 mg/kg) and 10 (1.6 mg/kg) compared with CON group (4.4 and 4.0 mg/kg, respectively).
In conclusion, dietary BV supplementation increased growth performance and apparent total tract digestibility, along with its beneficial effect on the intestinal microbial population, meat quality and fecal noxious gas concentrations.
L Yan, IH Kim, K Huh. 2012. Influence of bamboo vinegar supplementation on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility, blood characteristics, meat quality, fecal noxious gas content, and fecal microbial concentration in finishing pigs. Livestock Science, 144:240-246. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2011.11.020.