Two trials were conducted to exam effects of the garlic or/and turmeric on performance, feed conversion, blood characteristics and blood fat components of growing –finishing pigs. The first trial evaluated the use of fresh or dried garlic. The dietary treatments included: the control1 (basal diet); DG (basal diet + 0.1% dried garlic) and FG (basal diet + 0.1% fresh garlic). The second consisted of five treatments: control2 (basal diet); T0.05 (basal diet + 0.05 % turmeric); TG0.05 (basal diet + 0.05 % turmeric + 0.05% dried garlic); T0.1 (basal diet + 0.1% turmeric) and TG0.1 (basal diet + 0.1 % turmeric + 0.1% dried garlic). Feeding trials were done from growing to finishing.
The results of experiment 1 showed that addition of the fresh or dried garlic did not effect on performance, intake and feed conversion ratio of pigs. Blood parameters were similar among treatments, but cholesterol and LDL-C contents were significantly reduced (P= 0.01) in the diets supplemented with fresh and dried garlic, while HDL-C and triglycerides were not improved. Similarity, the inclusion of turmeric alone (0.05 or 0.1%) or either 0.1% plus 0.1% garlic did not improve growth rate, feed intake and feed conversion or blood parameters, but reduced cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (P=0.01)
The studies indicated that fresh or dried garlic and garlic plus turmeric might be used as a feed additive in the diet and have great potential in reducing the blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.