Effect of Dietary Sea Buckthorn Pomace Supplementation on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical, Immune, and Antioxidant Indexes in Weaned Piglets.

Sea buckthorn pomace is an industrial by-product, rich in a variety of functional compounds, but it has not been effectively used yet. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of sea buckthorn pomace (SBP) supplementary levels on production performance and serum metabolizes in weaned piglets. A total of 40 28-day-old weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire; half female and half castrated male) with 10 ± 0.30 kg of IBW were randomly assigned to 4 group (1 female and 1 castrated male/pen and 5 replicates/group). Piglets were consumed a basal diet, or the basal diet supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% SBP for 30 d, respectively. The results showed that the ADG, ADFI, and FBW were greater (p < 0.05), whereas the FCR was lesser (p < 0.05) in 2.0% and 1.0% SBP group than in 0% SBP group. The concentration of C3 was greater (p < 0.05) in 2.0% SBP group than in another group. The concentrations of IgM and IgG were greater (p < 0.05) when SBP supplemented than 0% SBP group. The concentration of IgA was greater (p < 0.05) in 2.0% SBP group than in 0% SBP and 0.5% SBP group. The concentration of T-AOC, activities of CAT and GSH-Px were greater (p < 0.05) when SBP supplemented than 0% SBP group. The activity of SOD and concentration of MDA were lesser (p < 0.05) in 2.0% and 1.0% SBP group than in 0% SBP group. It concluded that SBP could improve production, immune function, and antioxidant status on weaned piglets, and the appropriate level of SBP supplementation would be from 1.0% to 2.0%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]