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IRTA Spain, 2005

Progut^TM in the feeding of weaning piglets. Trial conducted by IRTA, Spain, 2005

Objective

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Progut^TM on piglet post weaning performance in comparison with the antibiotic colostin.

Materials and Methods

The trial was conducted in the weaning unit of the Department of Animal Nutrition, IRTA- Centre de Mas Bové. Piglets were housed in two weaning rooms with  automatic, forced ventilation and completely slatted floors. Piglets (Landrace x Pietrain) were weaned at 4 weeks of age and were randomly distributed into treatments by initial body weight. There were 12 replicas of 4 piglets per treatment.

The Piglets were fed with pre-starter diet from weaning until 14 days post weaning and with starter feed between 14 and 28 days post-weaning. Feed was in pelleted form and offered ad libitum. The feeding regime was as follows:

FEEDING REGIME AT IRTA

Weight and feed intake was measured at the beginning of the trial and at days 14 and 28 post-weaning. For statistical analysis a randomised block design was used. The comparison of Progut^TM and Colostin was part of a larger trial, in which also whey sources were studied. In the following report, only the results from the Progut^TM and colostin groups are presented.

Results

There were no differences between the Colostin and Progut^TM groups in average daily gain, feed intake or feed conversion ratio during the trial period. Unfortunately there wasn't a negative control group in this trial against which the effect of the tested intestinal health products could have been measured.

PERFORMANCE RESULTS OF PIGLETS AT IRTA, SPAIN 2005

Conclusions

It was concluded that there is no evidence to suggest there are any differences in the efficacy of the tested products on the post-weaning performance of piglets.