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The aim of this review is to present the potential of bovine colostrum as growth promoter in piglet-weaner diet. The consequences of weaning on the growth performance, on the gastro-intestinal tract and on the metabolic and endocrine systems of the piglet are described in the first part of this review. The second part is dedicated to bovine colostrum, with a description of the actions due to its main growth promoters and antimicrobial factors. Finally, the reported effects of colostrum specific components or colostrum fractions on the growth performance and on the structure and function of the gastro-intestinal tract of piglets in the early postweaning period are presented. They show clearly the potential of bovine colostrum to reduce the growth-check related to the weaning of the piglet.

In current study, field experiments were conducted to optimize the effects of foliar application of natural plant growth promoter i.e., moringa leaf extract (MLE) and synthetic growth retardant mepiquate chloride (MC) alone and in combined form. The time of applications were beginning of bloom, 45 and 90 days after blooming. Both the conventional (CIM 573) and Bt cotton (CIM 598) cultivars were used. The experiment was performed at agronomic research area, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan and Usmania Agricultural Farm, Shujabad during 2012. The combined application of MLE and MC at 45 days after blooming enhanced absolute growth rate, number of squares per plant in Bt, while specific leaf weight in non Bt cultivar. However, same treatment when applied at 90 days after blooming improved the number of bolls per plant, seed cotton yield, cotton seed yield, lint yield and lint index in Bt cotton. Application of MC alone reduced the plant growth without significantly increasing the yield. The natural growth promoter MLE being a rich source of macro, micro nutrients and zeatin enhanced growth and yield attributes not only when applied alone but also in combination with synthetic growth retardant MC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]