• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.149-154
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• 2002

Seventy two Duroc $\times$ Yorkshire $\times$ Landrace pigs (75.66$\pm$1.86 kg average initial body weight) were used in a 45 days growth assay to determine the effects of Astragalus membranaceus, ginseng and onion complex on growth performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. Dietary treatments included 1) Control (basal diet), 2) AGO 0.25 (basal diet + 0.25% Astragalus membranaceus, ginseng and onion complex), 3) AGO 0.50 (basal diet+0.50% Astragalus membranaceus. ginseng and onion complex). For overall period, average daily weight gain increased as the concentration of Astragalus membranaceus, ginseng and onion complex in the diets was increased (linear effect, p<0.01). Gain/feed improved without significant difference (p>0.05) as the concentration of Astragalus membranaceus, ginseng and onion complex in the diets was increased. As adding level of Astragalus membranaceus, ginseng and onion complex increased in the diets, A grade appearances of carcass tended to increase (linear effect, p<0.01). The total and LDL+VLDL cholesterol concentrations in serum of pigs fed AGO 0.25 diet were lower than them of pigs fed Control and AGO 0.50 diets without significant difference (p>0.05). $L^{*}$-, $a^{*}$-, and $b^{*}$- value of M. longissimus dorsi muscle were not significantly different among the treatments (p>0.05). Total feed cost per kg of weight gain was lower in the AGO 0.50 treatment (813 won) than in the Control (830 won). The results obtained from this feeding trial suggest that the Astragalus membranaceus, ginseng and onion complex supplementation for finishing pigs had improved growth performance. However, carcass characteristic was not affected by supplemental Astragalus membranaceus, ginseng and onion complex.lex.x.