Turmeric supplementation in piglets

Turmeric, also known as the golden spice, is a popular medicinal herb derived from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linnaeus. It plays a vital role in traditional medicine as an antimicrobial and anti-cancer agent.

Pigs at weaning are supplemented with antibiotics as a prophylactic measure against potential infections or to reduce morbidity and mortality. This indiscriminate use of antibiotics in production animals has given way to multi-drug resistance in both animals and humans.

Turmeric contains approximately:

• 69,4 % carbohydrates
• 5,1 % fats
• 6,3 % protein
• 3,5 % minerals
• 13,1 % humidity

The main bioactive compounds found within it are curcuminoids.

A total of 48(Duroc × [Yorkshire × Landrace]) weaned piglets  were assessed in the following study. The trial lasted 6 weeks and two dietary treatments were used: a control diet composed by corn flour and soy without turmeric and another diet with 1% turmeric powder weight by weight (w/w) .

Results revealed that dietary inclusion of turmeric improved the piglets’ final weight and the total daily gain average. In turn, short-chain fatty acids (acetic, butyric and propionic acids) concentrations found in fecal samples were higher for those piglets consuming the diet with turmeric inclusion. The incidence of diarrhoea amongst piglets was reduced when the diet was supplemented with turmeric.

As for the piglets’ hematological parameters, no variation was evidenced. On the other hand, it was noted that the animals did not manifest stress signs during the duration of the trial.

Based on these results, it is suggested that the use of turmeric as a potential alternative promoter for piglet growth could be adopted. Diets containing 2%, 4% and 6% turmeric powder improved final live weight and feed conversion rate compared to pigs fed a control diet.

The beneficial effects of turmeric on growth performance could be due to the increased secretion of enzymes like: amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsin and lipase.

Therefore, it has been shown to influence intestinal microbial fermentation and contribute to gut health.  Improving the amounts of beneficial bacteria, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and exerting a positive effect on gut morphology.

SOURCE: Animal Science and Technology. Dietary turmeric ( Curcuma longa L.) supplementation improves growth performance, short-chain fatty acid production, and modulates bacterial composition of weaned piglets 2021.