Inclusion of Milk Thistle Seed and Achyranthes japonica Extract Alone or in Combination in Diet of Weaning Pigs Results in Similar Growth Outcomes

TL;DR

Adding milk thistle seed or Achyranthes japonica extract to weaning pigs' diets had similar effects on growth, with no harmful side effects observed.

Contribution

This study is the first to investigate the combined effects of MTS and AJE on weaning pigs, revealing their potential as safe growth promoters.

Findings

MTS improved average daily gain in weaning pigs, especially when used alone or in combination with AJE.

No significant effects were observed on body weight, feed intake, or other growth parameters.

Neither MTS nor AJE caused adverse effects on nutrient digestibility, fecal gas emissions, or cytokine responses.

Abstract

Milk thistle seed (MTS) and Achyranthes japonica extract (AJE) both offer potential health benefits for pigs. MTS is rich in the bioactive compound and known for its hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, promoting liver health and reducing inflammation. AJE, derived from the Achyranthes japonica (AJ) root, contains phytoecdysteroids and saponins, which are linked to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and growth-promoting properties. Earlier research suggests that MTS improves liver function and nutrient utilization, while AJE has shown benefits in enhancing growth performance and nutrient digestibility in pigs. To date, no study exists on examining the combined effects of MTS and AJE on weaning pigs. Thus, we aimed to assess the impacts of MTS and AJE, both individually and in combination, on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal consistency, fecal gas emissions, and cytokine responses in pigs and found no significant effect observed for either additive.

The objective of this study was to assess the impacts of milk thistle seed (MTS) and Achyranthes japonica extract (AJE), both individually and in combination, on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal score, fecal gas emissions, and cytokine responses in n = 120 crossbred [(Landrace Yorkshire) × Duroc] weaning piglets with an initial body weight of 6.53 ± 1.24 kg. Pigs were selected based on sex and randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments for 6 weeks. The experimental diets were as follows: (1) CON—control/basal diet; (2) AJE (CON + 0.10% AJE); (3) MTS (CON + 0.10% MTS); and (4) CMB—combo feed (CON + 0.05% of AJE + 0.05% of MTS). Each treatment consisted of six replicates with five pigs (three ♀ and two barrows ♂) per pen. The incorporation of MTS has the potential to enhance (p < 0.05) the average daily gain in weaning pigs, particularly when used alone or in combination with AJE. But there were no significant effects or adverse effects observed on other growth parameters such as body weight, average daily feed intake, and gain-to-feed ratio. Also, there were no notable changes found in nutrient digestibility, fecal score, fecal gas emissions, or cytokine production. In summary, MTS and AJE, administered alone or in combination, reveal similar growth outcomes, suggesting that both additives could serve as potential options to improve animal performance without adverse effects.