Effect of dietary supplementation of turmeric extract (Curcuma longa) on health status and survival rate of pre-weaned and post-weaned piglets

In livestock nutrition, natural feed additives are gaining increased attention as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters to improve animal performance. This study investigated the effects of dietary turmeric extract supplementation to pregnant and farrowed sows as well as to pre-weaned and post-weaned piglets on the growth performance and survivability of piglets. Study revealed that turmeric extract supplementation to pregnant sows @ 500mg/day/sow during last quarter of pregnancy improved their subsequent lactation and postnatal daily body weight gain of piglets. Turmeric extract supplementation to pre-weaned piglets @ 2 50mg/day/piglet enhanced their growth performance. Turmeric extract at the supplemented rate in the present study had no significant influence on survival rate of piglets.