Standardized Plant Extract Alleviates the Negative Effects of FMD Vaccination on Animal Performance

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of a plant extract (PE) on growth performance and immune status in foot and mouth disease (FMD)-vaccinated growing pigs. A total of 120 crossed ((Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc) growing pigs with an average initial body weight (BW) of 24.66 ± 2.34 kg and an average age of 70 days were randomized into three groups (10 pens; 4 pigs per pen per treatment) as follows: a nonvaccinated negative control group (NV), a FMD vaccinated group (OV), and a third group received a 0.0125% PE supplement after vaccination (PV), in a 6-week trial. The PV group receiving PE supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the BW compared with the OV group, and average daily gain (ADG) during days 1–14, overall and gain-to-feed ratio (G: F) in days 1–14, and dry matter (DM) digestibility at week 6 were higher (p < 0.05) in the PV compared with the OV group. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in haptoglobin concentration was observed in the OV group compared with the NV group at 25 days postvaccination. The inhibition percentage of antibodies against FMD in the sera reached above 50% in the PV group 5 days earlier than in the OV group. The findings suggest that the inclusion of PE in the diet promoted the performance of vaccinated growing pigs.