Abstract: Different dosages of compound Chinese herbal were supplemented to the water to study the growth performance and immune function of piglets. Forty-eight 'Duroc× Landrance × Yorkshire' crossbred piglets (15 d±2 d) were randomly divided into 4 groups of 12 piglets each by weight and sex. At 15 days of age, piglets were drunk with tap water in control group,tap water+0.5 g/100 mL compound Chinese herbal in group Ⅰ, tap water +1.0 g/100 mL compound Chinese herbal in group Ⅱ and tap water +1.5 g/100 mL compound Chinese herbal in group Ⅲ respectively. The trial was conducted for 30 d. Body absolute weights(AW), average daily gain (ADW), average day feed intake (ADFI) and the ratio of feed to gain(F/G) of all piglets were determined on 15, 29, 43 days of age and diarrhea rates were evaluated. Blood samples in 6 piglets from each group were taken on 15, 28, 33, 38, 43 days of age for measuring some immune indexes and the levels of hog cholera antibody. The results showed that addition of different dosages of compound Chinese herbal to the water increased significantly ADG (P<0.01) and decreased F/G and the diarrhea ratio (P<0.01 or P<0.05), T-lymphocyte transformation rate and the levels of immune glubulin were increased significantly (P<0.01), and the levels of hog cholera antibody were increased. Compound Chinese herbal supplemented to the water with a proper dosage can increase growth performance, improve the immuce function and enhance the growth of piglets.

Key words: compound Chinese herbal; piglets; growth performance; immune function 