A study on the effect of supplementation of single and blend of organic acids on the performance of lwy× desi crossbred pigs

Abstract

In the present study, an attempt was made to evaluate the effect of either single (citric newlineacid / fumaric acid / benzoic acid) or blend of organic acids (citric, fumaric and benzoic newlineacids) on the performance of crossbred (LWY × Desi) pigs of different physiological phases newlinei.e., weaners, growers, finishers, pregnant and lactating sows and their litter up to weaning newlinephase. The experimental diets formulated (NRC, 2012) were basal diet (T1 - control), basal newlinediet containing 1.5% citric acid (T2), 1.5% fumaric acid (T3), 1.5% benzoic acid (T4) and newline1.5% blend of citric, fumaric and benzoic acids each at 0.5% (T5). The growth performance, newlinenutrient digestibility and fecal microbiota were studied during weaner, grower and finisher newlinephases. Towards the end of the finisher phase, four pigs per each treatment were slaughtered newlineto study gut microbiota, intestinal morphology, carcass characteristics and meat quality newlineattributes. newlineAn in-vitro study has been carried out to evaluate the anti-bacterial activity of newlineselected organic acids. The MIC (mg/ml) revealed higher sensitivity of E. coli to the tested newlineorganic acids (either individual or combination) as compared to Salmonella and newlineStaphylococcus. The anti-bacterial activity assessed by ABST as the zone of inhibition (mm) newlinexxi newlinewas highest for Staphylococcus as compared with E. coli and Salmonella for all the tested newlineorganic acids. newline