Effects of dietary star anise (Illicium verum Hook f) supplementation during gestation and lactation on the performance of lactating multiparous sows and nursing piglets

Abstract

Thirty-two sows were allocated to four treatments to evaluate the effect of dietary star anise (SA) supplementation during gestation and lactation on the lactational performance of sows. At 85 days of gestation, sows were randomly allotted to one of two diets supplemented with 0.5% SA or basal diet. After farrowing, sows were further allotted to one of two lactation diets supplemented with 0.5% SA or basal diet. On a weekly basis, body weight (BW) of sows and piglets was measured. Blood and milk samples were obtained from the sows and piglets. Number of days from weaning to estrus, milk yield and feed intake were also recorded. Weight gain of piglets from sows fed the SA-supplemented diet during lactation was greater between days 7 and 14, days 14 and 21 and the overall experimental period compared with control groups. Supplementation of SA during lactation improved weaning weight of piglets, milk yield and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of sows. The SA diet increased concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in ordinary milk and prolactin (PRL) in serum of sows. In conclusion, this study has indicated the beneficial effects of dietary SA addition in improving the lactation performance of sows.

Illicium verum and Eucommia ulmoides leaf extracts promote nutrient availability and antioxidant capacity in piglets by upregulating duodenal and jejunal Nrf2/TNF‐α

“…Rao et al (2012) reported that star anise has significant potential to be used as a natural antioxidant agent. I. verum powder or oil was shown to increase the antioxidant capacities of lactating multiparous sows (Wang et al, 2015), laying hens (Yang et al, 2017;Yu et al, 2018) and broilers (Ding, Yang, Yang, 2017;Ding, Yang, Yi, et al, 2017), which is consistent with the results of this study. Bhatti et al (2017) reported that protocatechuic acid in I. verum has excellent antioxidative properties.…”

Effects of various additives to enhance growth performance, blood profiles, and reduce malodour emissions in growing pigs

“…In addition, in a previous study, some immunological substances in the blood were increased, but the characteristics of BUN, LDL, and HDL were not altered significantly (Cho et al, 2006). Furthermore, sows increased some immune substances in serum, and ADFI and ADG of growth performance were enhanced in the sow and nursing piglets (Wang et al, 2015).…”

Effects of dietary fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) seed powder supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, small intestinal morphology, and carcass traits of broilers

“…This indicated that FSP supplementation promoted intestinal growth and development and improved intestinal morphology in broilers. Anise has been reported to improve the intestinal microbiota structure (Charal, 2014;Wang et al, 2015), and a similar effect may account for the effects of fennel on intestinal development and morphology, that is, certain active ingredients or unknown factors in fennel promote the growth of beneficial intestinal microorganisms in broilers. A healthy intestinal micro-ecosystem promotes normal intestinal tract development and ensures the integrity of the intestinal morphological structure.…”