Influence of Combination of Two Plant Extracts and Liquid Minerals Supplementation in Drinking Water on Growth Performance and Meat Quality in Pigs

A feeding trial was conducted by supplementing Mentha arvensis (MA), Geranium thunbergii (GT) and liquid minerals (LM) in drinking water of pigs and the effects on growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality were evaluated. A total of 80 pigs were allocated into 4 treatments: control (0% plant extracts, 0% LM), T1 (0.1% LM + 0.1% 1 MA: 4 GT), T2 (0.1% LM + 0.1% 4 MA:1 GT), T3 (0.1 % LM + 0.1% 1 MA:1 GT). Weight gain was significantly increased in T3. However, the dietary treatments had no significant effect on carcass weight, back fat thickness and water holding capacity (WHC). A significant reduction in cooking loss and shear force was observed in T2. Considering the meat color, T3 significantly increased the a* value. Microbial count was significantly decreased (P less than 0.05) at 0-week of storage in T3. Our studies indicate that plant extracts and liquid minerals enhances the growth performance and meat quality, without any adverse effects.

Influence of Two Plant Extracts on Broiler Performance, Oxidative Stability of Meat and Odorous Gas Emissions from Excreta

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of plant extracts derived from Mentha arvensis (MA) and Geranium thunbergii (GT) on broiler performance, carcass yield, digestive organ weights, meat quality and odorous gas emissions from the excreta. A total of 210 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to one of the following dietary treatments for five weeks: (1) control, (2) 0.1% MA, (3) 0.05% GT, (4) 0.1% GT and 0.1% mixed preparation with varying ratios such as (5) 0.1% 1MA:1GT, (6) 0.1% 1MA:4GT and (7) 0.1% 4MA:1GT. The weight gain (0–3 weeks) was significantly (P<0.01) increased in response to dietary inclusion of plant extracts; however, no significant differences were observed in breast and thigh meat yield (P>0.05). Additionally, no differences were observed in proventriculus, gizzard, pancreas, small and large intestine weight. When compared with the control group, birds fed plant extracts had the lowest meat TBARS value after 0 and 3 weeks of storage (P<0.05). Moreover, the pH value was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the plant extract supplemented groups at 0 weeks. The faecal H2S emissions were significantly reduced at 0 h and 6 h in all supplemented groups relative to the control (P<0.05). Similarly, NH3 emissions were reduced at 0 h and 6 h for all supplemented groups except the 0.1% 1MA:1GT group (P<0.05). Overall, the results of the present study indicate that plant extracts supplementation can be used to improve performance and meat quality of broiler chickens while reducing the emission of harmful gases from the excreta.