November 28, 2007

Netherlands research: plant extracts to reduce worms in pigs

Plant extracts may be the solution to deworm pigs using a non-pharmaceutical approach, according to a new study from the Animal Sciences Group in the Netherlands.

The study was conducted to test herb alternatives in the prevention and control of a mild infection of Ascaris Suum on growing and finishing pigs.

Two herb mixtures were tested. The first kind of feed was supplemented with 3-percent herb mixture --- thereby adding 1 percent Thymus vulgaris, 1 percent Melissa officinalis and 1 percent Echinacea purpurea to the diet.

The other feed was a 4-percent herb mixture, thereby adding the mentioned herbs plus 1 percent Camellia sinensis (black tea) to the diet.

Netherlands' researchers found that the 3-percent herb mixture of Thymus vulgaris, Melissa officinalis and Echinacea purpurea, did not decrease the number of pigs with Ascaris suum but it did decrease the number of worms in the gastro intestinal tract.

The 4-percent herb mixture, which has an addition of black tea, did not decrease the number of infected pigs and it also did not reduce the number of worms in pigs.

In organic farms, low-worm infection can be treated with a conventional synthetic drug and a diet with herb mixture containing 1 percent.

Regular examination of faeces of sows, weaners and growing and finishing pigs is recommended to monitor the level of worm infection in a farm. Based on this monitoring, varying deworming techniques can be developed for the different categories of pigs.