Use of propolis in the feeding of weanling pigs as an additive and for prevention of diarrhea

Abstract

Sixty recently weaned Large White pigs of both sexes were used to study the effects of feeding different concentrations of propolis in isonitrogenous diets (18% CP) on animal performance and disease prevention. The treatments (diets) were: T1 - 500 ppm of ethanol extract of propolis EEP; T2 – 1 500 ppm of EEP, T3 – 4 500 ppm of EEP, T4 – with neither EEP, growth promoter nor coccidiostat (negative control); and T5 - 500 ppm of copper sulphate and 120 ppm of oxytetracycline (positive control). The experimental design was completely randomized with four replications. The treatments had no significant effects on live weight gain, feed consumption or feed conversion ratio, the overall means being 10.55 kg, 24.4 kg, and 2.313 kg/kg, respectively; but there was a tendency toward poorer performance in the animals of T4.