Role of Herbal Residues in Pathogen Inhibition and VFA Production by in Vitro Studies in Pigs

Abstract: A basal diet was added with six herbal residues viz- Bacopa monnieri Withania sominifera, Garcinia cambogia, Gingeber officinale, Emblica officinalis, Curcuma longa to make six dietary treatments (T1-T6),respectively to evaluate volatile fatty acid production and their ability to inhibit pathogen growth in a CRD model. It was observed that the lowest (P<0.05) pathogenic count was recorded for T4 as compared to others. In T1 to T6, acetic acid production non-significantly dominated propionic acid followed by butyric acid. It was concluded that herbal residues especially Zingiber officinale can be hypothetically used as an alternate to antibiotics in pigs in improving the performance indices.