PSXV-20 - Effects of Salicylic Acid on Growth Performance, Fecal Score, Blood Profile and Nutrient Digestibility in Weaned Pigs

Abstract: Salicylic acid (SA) is an organic acid found in willow bark and is most widely known as the precursor to acetyl salicylic acid. Such salicylates were commonly used as anti-inflammatory drugs, used both in human and veterinary medicine. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the effect of SA in 80 weaning pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] with average initial body weight of 6.38 ± 1.42 kg that were randomly assigned to treatment by body weight (BW). The feeding trial was divided into three phases: Phase- 1 (1to 7 days), Phase- 2 (8 to 21 days) and Phase-3 (22 to 42 days). For a period of 6 weeks, pigs were randomly allotted to two treatments, CON (basal diet) and SA (CON + 0.05% Salicylic acid), with 8 replications per treatment and five pigs per pen. Supplemental effects on growth performance were measured at the end of days 7, 21, and 42. Blood samples were collected from 2 pigs per pen at d 42. Turkey test was performed using GLM procedure of SAS to determine the effect of salicylic acid supplement in weaning pigs with a pen as experimental unit. Dietary inclusion of SA supplementation at days 7, 21, and 42 (P < 0.05) significantly improved the BW gain of the weaning pig compared with control. Over the entire experimental period, pigs fed diet supplemented with SA has tended to increase (P = 0.06) average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (P = 0.07), respectively, compared with those fed CON diet. Moreover, at the end of trial, the blood parameters of serum iron (Fe) concentration was greater in pigs (P < 0.05) fed diet supplemented with SA. In conclusion, supplementation of SA positively influenced BW, ADG, ADFI and serum Fe concentration without affecting the nutrient digestibility and fecal score.