Evaluation of Beta-glucan, Antibiotics, and Antimicrobial Alternatives on Growth Performance and Immunological Parameters in Weanling Pigs

Abstract

Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of beta-glucan, along with a standard antibiotic, acidifier and a probiotic culture, on growth performance of weanling pigs. In Exp. 1, there were no differences (P > 0.10) in ADG, ADFI and G:F of pigs fed diets with either carbadox or 0.20% beta-glucan but inclusion of 0.40% beta-glucan reduced (P < 0.10) ADG. In Exp. 2, addition of carbadox or beta-glucan increased (P < 0.05) ADG at the nursery phase. In Expt. 3, addition of beta-glucan improved (P < 0.10) growth performance as compared to inclusion of acidifier alone. In Exp. 4, addition of probiotic to diets with or without beta-glucan improved (P < 0.10) growth performance of pigs. On the average across all experiments, the growth performance of pigs fed 0.20% beta-glucan was intermediate between carbadox and the negative control diet.