Objetivou-se avaliar o desempenho de suínos na fase inicial e de crescimento alimentados com diferentes tipos de óleos essenciais de plantas adaptadas ao semiárido Nordestino. Foram utilizados 40 suínos da linhagem comercial Agroceres®, (20 machos castrados e 20 fêmeas) com peso vivo médio inicial de 13,5 ± 3kg, distribuídos em um delineamento em blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram na ração controle e outras quatro rações que continham 0,01% de óleos essenciais de erva-doce, marmeleiro, alfavaca e erva-cidreira. As variáveis avaliadas foram: desempenho, incidência de diarréia e perfil microbiológico. Não houve efeito da adição dos óleos essenciais para as variáveis de consumo de ração, ganho de peso, conversão alimentar e contagem de bactérias para os animais na fase inicial, apresentando influência da adição dos óleos para consumo de ração, conversão alimentar na fase de crescimento I e para consumo de ração na fase total. Os óleos essenciais de marmeleiro, erva-cidreira e alfavaca apresentaram um efeito positivo no controle da diarréia. Concluiuse que os óleos essenciais de marmeleiro, erva-cidreira e alfavaca, podem ser utilizados como antimicrobiano para combater a diarréia dos leitões, sem acarretar prejuízo no desempenho.

Two experimental tests were carried out to evaluate the inclusion of a biofermented semi-arid plant mix in diets of piglets in the initial weaning phase. In the first trial, the nutritional value and digestibility of nutrients and the digestible and metabolizable energy values of the bio-fermented plants mix were evaluated. To do so, eight piglets with an initial average weight of 15.2 ± 2.7 kg were used, housed in metabolic cages, and using the total collection of feces and urine. The bio-fermented plant mix diet presented 80.40% and 68.18% as digestibility coefficients for dry matter and crude fiber, respectively; 10.08% crude protein and 2,865 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy. In the second trial, the inclusion of 0, 3, 6 and 9% of bio-fermented plant mix was evaluated on performance, diarrhea incidence, plasma components, weight, and length of digestive organs of piglets in the initial weaning phase. To do so, 40 piglets with an initial average weight of 12.6 ± 3.5 kg were used, distributed in a randomized block design with four treatments, five replicates, and two animals per experimental unit. The inclusion of different levels of bio-fermented plant mix did not affect (P>0.05) the performance, weight, and length of digestive organs or serum parameters. However, the inclusion of bio-fermented plant reduced (P<0.01) the diarrhea incidence. It is concluded that bio-fermented plants adapted to the semi-arid region has the potential to be used in diets for pigs in the initial weaning phase.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the use of increasing levels of castor bean cake detoxified with calcium hydroxide in diets for pigs at growing and finishing phases on performance, diet digestibility, weight of digestive organs, carcass traits, and economic evaluation. A total of 40 barrows with 44.59 ± 5.16 kg initial weight were fed diets with 0%, 7%, 14%, and 21% detoxified castor bean cake. Increasing levels of detoxified castor bean cake in diets resulted in linear worsening in the average daily gain of the pigs. Dry matter, crude protein, and gross energy digestibilities were adversely affected by the levels of detoxified castor bean cake. A linear decrease in loin eye area and ham yield was detected depending on detoxified castor bean cake inclusion levels. Although the detoxified castor bean cake had no effect on the assessed economic variables, its use in diets for growing and finishing pigs is not recommended.