Propolis extract in the diet of weaned piglets/Extrato de propolis na dieta de leitoes desmamados

This study was conducted to assess the use of propolis ethanolic extract as an alternative to performance-enhancing antibiotics for piglets. Seventy piglets weaned at 21 days of age, with initial weights of 7.3 [+ or -] 0.4kg and final weights of 24.9 [+ or -] 1.2kg, were randomly assigned to five diets: positive control (diet with 200ppm antibiotic); negative control (diet without growth promoter); and diets with 100, 500, and 1,000ppm of brown propolis ethanolic extract, with seven replicates of two piglets each. The duration of the experimental period was 35 days. The diets did not influence (P>0.05) daily feed intake, daily weight gain, final weight, and feed conversion of animals. The bacteriological profile of the nasal swab presented a predominance of gram-positive bacteria commonly associated with the mucous membranes in all samples. Rectal swabs did not present atypical bacterial isolates. The use of ethanolic propolis extract in diets did not alter the performance of weaned piglets, nor did it affect the bacteriological profile, fecal score, or the occurrence of diarrhea in piglets. Key words: antimicrobials, diarrhea, ethanolic extract, vegetable extract. Esta pesquisa foi realizada com o objetivo de investigar a utilizacao de extrato etanoico de propolis como alternativa aos antibioticos melhoradores de desempenho para leitoes. Foram avaliados 70 leitoes desmamados aos 21 dias de idade, com pesos iniciais de 7,3 [+ or -] 0,4kg e final de 24,9 [+ or -] 1,2kg. Estes foram distribuidos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com cinco dietas: controle positivo--dieta com 200ppm de antibiotico; controle negativo--dieta sem promotor de crescimento; dietas com 100, 500 e 1.000ppm de extrato etanoico de propolis marrom, com sete repeticoes de dois leitoes cada. A duracao do periodo experimental foi de 35 dias. As dietas nao influenciaram (P>0,05) no consumo de racao diaria, ganho de peso diario, peso final e a conversao alimentar dos animais. O perfil bacteriologico da swab nasal apresentou predominio de bacterias Gram positivas comumente associadas as membranas das mucosas em todas as coletas realizadas. As swabs retais nao apresentaram isolamento atipico. A utilizacao do extrato etanoico de propolis nas dietas nao altera o desempenho de leitoes desmamados, bem como nao afeta o perfil bacteriologico, escore fecal e a ocorrencia de diarreia dos leitoes. Palavras-chave: antimicrobianos, diarreia, extrato etanoico, extrato vegetal.