Abstract: The aim was to evaluate the effect of dietary addition of a polyherbal phytogenic (Animunin) on the productive performance and blood biochemistry in finishing lambs. Forty Hampshire × Suffolk males lambs (initial body weight 26.52 ± 2.13 kg) were allocated according to a completely randomized design in four treatments. Treatments consisted of dietary inclusion of the Animunin at 0, 1, 2, and 3 g kg-1 dry matter (DM). Animunin addition was not modified (p > 0.05) the productive performance, DM intake, backfat thickness, chop area, energy and protein metabolites, or liver enzymes. While hematocrit, hemoglobin and erythrocytes showed a quadratic response (p ≤ 0.05) with Animunin. The polyherbal phytogenic evaluated did not improve lamb’s productive performance and metabolites related with immune response.

Resumen: El objetivo fue evaluar el efecto de la adición dietaría de un fitogénico poliherbal (Animunin) sobre el comportamiento productivo y la bioquímica sanguínea en corderos. Se utilizaron 40 corderos machos Hampshire × Suffolk con peso vivo inicial de 26.52 ± 2.13 kg, distribuidos en un diseño completamente al azar en cuatro tratamientos. Los tratamientos fueron la inclusión de Animunin a 0, 1, 2 y 3 g kg-1 de materia seca (MS). La adición de Animunin no modifico (p > 0.05) el comportamiento productivo, el consumo de MS, el espesor de grasa dorsal, el área de la chuleta, los metabolitos energéticos y proteicos, o las enzimas hepáticas. Mientras que el hematocrito, la hemoglobina y los eritrocitos mostraron una respuesta cuadrática (p ≤ 0.05) a la adición de Animunin. El fitogénico poliherbal no mejoró el comportamiento productivo ni los metabolitos relacionados con la respuesta inmune de corderos.

ABSTRACT We conducted an experiment to evaluate the effect of a polyherbal additive with metabolites such as antioxidants, vitamins, and small hydrolysable tannoids oils on productive parameters and blood metabolites in finishing lambs. Forty male Hampshire × Suffolk lambs (23.79±2.24 kg) were used in a completely randomized experimental design. Treatments consisted of dietary inclusion of a polyherbal additive based on Emblica officinalis and Ocimum sanctum at 0, 5, 10, and 15 g/kg dry matter for 60 d. There were no effects on daily gain, dry matter intake, feed conversion, back fat thickness, and Longissimus dorsi area; however, hot carcass dressing improved linearly as the level of herbal additive supplementation was increased. The antioxidants of the polyherbal additive linearly inhibited lipid oxidation of the meat (24 h; day 10) and improved its water-holding capacity (24 h). Meat lightness after 1 d was reduced linearly, but no changes were detected in other color parameters. Metabolites (glucose, urea, cholesterol) related to energy or protein metabolism were not affected by the herbal additive. Lymphocytes and basophiles were reduced linearly whereas monocytes and segmented neutrophils increased linearly for polyherbal additive. The inclusion of the polyherbal additive does not improve daily gain or feed efficiency in finishing lambs but improves the carcass dressing and antioxidant capacity of the meat.