Effect of anise oil fed to lactating sows and nursery pigs on sow feed intake, piglet performance, and weanling pig feed intake and growth performance1

Anise oil (AO) was fed to lactating sows and to pigs after weaning to determine its effect on feed intake and performance of nursery pigs. Sows (24) were fed either (1) control or (2) AO (control + 50 mg/kg of AO). At weaning, within sow treatment, 168 pigs were assigned to control or AO. Pigs were fed a 3-phase nursery program (1 wk each), and feed intake was determined daily during wk 1. On d 2, 3, or 7, daily feed intake tended to be greater for progeny of sows fed AO (P < 0.10). Pigs fed AO also tended to consume more feed on d 1, 5, and 7 (P < 0.10). On d 7 and phase 1, progeny of sows fed control tended to have the least ADFI when fed control and the highest when fed AO (P < 0.10). Pigs fed AO had greater ADFI, ADG, and G:F (P < 0.05) in wk 2. In wk 3, progeny of sows fed control had the least ADFI when fed control and the highest when fed AO (P < 0.05). Overall, progeny of sows fed control tended to have the least ADFI when fed control and greatest when fed AO (P = 0.06). Pigs fed AO during the nursery phase tended to have greater ADG and BW (P < 0.10). Feeding AO did not affect sow performance but increased ADFI in pigs immediately after weaning.