This study investigated the effects of a root extract from Achyranthes Japonica Nikai (AJN) on the growth performance, blood profile, fecal microbial community, fecal gas emission, and meat quality of finishing pigs. A total of 72 crossbreed pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc], with an initial body weight of 50.28 ± 3.77 kg were used in a 70-day experiment with a completely randomized block design. There were two phases: phase 1 (days 0–35) and phase 2 (days 36–70). There were three diet conditions: 1) CON, corn-soybean-wheat basal diet; 2) TRT1, CON + 0.1% AJN root extract; and 3) TRT2, CON + 0.2% AJN root extract. There were six replicate pens per treatment and four pigs (two barrows and two gilts) per pen. Average daily gain (ADG) during phase 2 increased linearly with the dose of AJN root extract, while drip loss on day 3 and ammonia emission during phase 2 decreased linearly. However, the blood profile and fecal microbial community did not differ among the diet groups. In conclusion, AJN root extract increased ADG during days 36–70 and reduced drip loss from meat samples. It also reduced fecal ammonia emission, which improve the overall barn environment.

这项研究调查了牛膝的根提取物的作用（AJN）对育肥猪的生长性能，血液分布，粪便微生物群落，粪便气体排放和肉品质的影响。在70天的实验中，采用完全随机区组设计，总共使用了72头杂种猪（[Landrace×Yorkshire]×Duroc），其初始体重为50.28±3.77 kg。有两个阶段：第一阶段（0-35天）和第二阶段（36-70天）。共有三种饮食条件：1）CON，玉米-大豆-小麦基础饮食；2）TRT1，CON + 0.1％AJN根提取物; 3）TRT2，CON + 0.2％AJN根提取物。每种处理有六支重复笔，每支猪有四头猪（两头猪和两头母猪）。第2阶段的平均日增重（ADG）随着AJN根提取物的剂量线性增加，而第3天的滴水损失和第2阶段的氨气排放呈线性下降。然而，饮食组之间的血型和粪便微生物群落没有差异。总之，AJN根提取物在第36-70天期间增加了ADG，并减少了肉样品的滴水损失。它还减少了粪便氨气的排放，从而改善了整个谷仓环境。