Effects of Chinese herbs combined with α-ketoglutarate on the growth and gastrointestinal tract function in weaned pigs

【Objective】 This present study was conducted to evaluate effects of Chinese herbs combined with α-ketoglutarate(AKG) on the growth and gastrointestinal tract function in weaned pigs.【Method】 Fifty six 26-day-old weaned piglets(body weight 6.0±0.5 kg) were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=14),and then fed basic diets containing:Control(C) group(fed with 100 mL normal saline),Chinese herbs(H) group(fed with 100 mL Chinese herbal preparations),AKG(A) group(fed with 100 mL normal saline plus 0.1 g AKG) and Chinese herbs combined AKG(AH) group(fed with 100 mL Chinese herbal preparations plus 0.1 g AKG),respectively.The piglets were slaughtered after 4 weeks feeding experiment.The samples were collected.The determinations were completed by auto-blood biochemical analyzer,Motic Image Advanced 3.2 System.【Result】 ①The daily weight gain(DWG) and daily feed intake in group H,A and AH were significantly higher than those in group C(P0.05).DWG in group A was significantly higher than that in group H and AH(P0.05).However,the feed gain ratio showed no significant difference between group H,A,AH and C.②Compared with group C,stomach index was increased dramatically in group H(P0.01),group A and AH(P0.05),small intestine index was improved remarkably in H group(P0.05).③In group A and AH,the villus height of proximal jejunum,middle jejunum and distal jejunum was higher(P0.01 or P0.05,respectively) than that in group C.The crypt depth was significantly reduced in proximal jejunum(P0.01),middle jejunum(P0.01) and distal jejunum(P0.05) in group AH,and distal jejunum(P0.05) in group A.④The concentration of high density lipoprotein,low density lipoprotein and cholesterol in group A was significantly higher than that in group C(P0.05).【Conclusion】 These results indicated that Chinese herbs combined with AKG could improve histological morphology and function of the digestive tract of weaned piglets,and enhance growth performance.Furthermore,AKG strengthened the effect of Chinese herbs.