Olive leaves provide a natural source of bioactive compounds such as biophenols, which could have beneficial effects on the digestibility and utilization of nutrients, physiological properties and immune resistance of organism. Therefore, biophenols are interesting as a potential feed additive for the improvement of animal’s health and quality of animal products. The objective of our research was to determine whether adding olive leaf extract to the feed affects the utilization of nutrients and energy in young castrated male pigs. The balance study included 36 young castrated male pigs, divided into 6 experimental groups. Pigs in each group received certain feed, either the control feed without the addition of linseed oil (Kont-), control feed with linseed oil (Kont+), feed with linseed oil and vitamin E (240 IE α–tocopherol acetate/kg feed) (VitE) or feed with linseed oil and a various amount of olive leaf extract (0.4, 4 or 10 grams) (Eol1, Eol2 and Eol3). In our study we measured digestibility, balance and utilization of dry and organic matter, ash, fat, protein, NDV and KDV, gross energy and minerals: Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu. The results show that the addition of various quantities of olive leaf extract does not affect the digestibility and utilization of nutrients, minerals and energy. Olive leaf extract can be used as a safe, natural nutritional supplement for compound feeds for domestic animals, with potential antioxidant activity that requires further consideration.
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