The influence of feed additive “Sylimevit” on indicators of the immune system of piglets at weaning

Abstract

In the development of adaptive reactions during weaning, biological mechanisms are involved with the complete mobilization of the functional reserve, an increase in the level of catecholamines, corticosteroids, and mediators, which is accompanied by a violation of the nitrogen balance in the body, enzymopathy, and endotoxemia—the work aimed to investigate humoral and non-specific immunity indicators in piglets after weaning. Experiments were conducted based on the Ltd “KOSHET” of the Mukachiv district of the Zakarpattia region. Two groups of piglets were formed – control and experimental in the number of 10 individuals in each group, selected according to the principle of analogs – age, breed, and body weight. Weaning piglets from sows at 28 days suppress the humoral link of natural resistance. A decrease in lysocin and bactericidal activity of blood serum was established at 40.56 ± 1.75 and 21.22 ± 1.05 %. The content of circulating immune complexes in the blood of piglets of the control group remained high after weaning. Along with a decrease in the activity of the humoral link of immunity in weaned piglets, suppression of the non-specific link of the immune system was established, manifested by a decrease in phagocytic activity and a decrease in the number of phagocytes. Feeding the feed supplement “Sylimevit” to the piglets of the research group helped to strengthen the immune status of the piglets' bodies. In piglets of the research group on the 35th day of life, when feeding the feed additive “Sylimevit”, an increase in the phagocytic activity of neutrophils by 4.26 % was established. Similar differences were obtained regarding the effect of the Butaselmevit-plus feed additive on the phagocytic number and the phagocytic index, in particular, in piglets of the experimental group on the 35th day of the experiment; they were 7.63 and 11.1 % higher than in control. These research results confirm the effectiveness of using milk thistle, methifen, selenium, and vitamins as part of the feed supplement “Sylimevit” for piglets before and after weaning to activate the protective systems of their body.