Effects of dietary fermented red ginseng marc and red ginseng extract on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profile, fecal microbial, and noxious gas emission in weanling pigs

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary fermented red ginseng marc (FRGM) and red ginseng extract (RGE) on performance in weanling pigs. Dietary treatments included: (1) T1, control diet; (2) T2, control diet + 4 g/kg FRGM; (3) T3, control diet + 4 g/kg RGE; (4) T4, control diet + 4 g/kg FRGM + 4 g/ kg RGE. On day 21, pigs fed T2 diet had higher apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM) and lower NH 3 emission than pigs fed T1 diet (P < 0.05) had. Meanwhile, pigs fed T2, T3 and T4 diets had higher ATTD of Nitrogen (N) than pigs fed T1 diet (P < 0.05). Moreover, on day 35, pigs fed T2, T3 and T4 diets had higher ATTD of DM and lower H 2 S emission than pigs fed T1 diet (P < 0.05). In addition, pigs fed T2, T3 and T4 diets had lower fecal E. coli counts than pigs fed T1 diet (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of FRGM and RGE improved nutrient digestibility, decreased fecal E. coli counts and fecal noxious gas emission of weanling pigs. However, no statistically significant differences were observed on growth performance and blood profile.