Agrifood Research Centre, Finland 2003

Piglet feeding trial at Agrifood Research Center, Finland, 2003

The aim of the trial was to study the effects of different feed ingredients on performance and diarrhoea frequency in piglets.

There were 20 litters in the trial that were weaned at an average of 33 days of age. Each litter was split into two pens, which were allotted to treatments. The trial was conducted according to the randomised incomplete block model and the blocks were litters. The treatments were negative control, liquid formic acid (0.8%), Progut^TM (0.3%), cumin oil (80mg/kg) and potato fiber (20g/kg). Piglets were fed with the same feed from 21 days after weaning until the end of the trial. The basic feed contained barley, wheat, de-hulled oats, whey powder, fishmeal, amino acids, minerals and premixes. Nutrient content of the feed was according to Finnish feeding recommendations. The trial was started at weaning and continued until 65 days of age. Piglets were weighed at weaning, 10 and 21 days after weaning and at the end of the trial. Feed consumption was measured per pen. Diarrhoea cases per pen were followed using a four-scale evaluation (0 = firm faeces, 3 = watery diarrhoea). The results from the three most common treatments are presented below.

Results

Feeds containing Progut^TM and formic acid improved the growth of Piglets weaned at 33 days of age (see table below), although the differences were not statistically significant. Feed conversion ratio was also improved in comparison with negative control but the results weren't reliable due to feed wastage from feeding automats. Feeds containing Progut^TM tended to decrease the frequency of diarrhoea.

	Negative Control	Formic Acid (0.8%)	Progut^TM
No. of piglets	34	45	36
Weaning age (days)	33.9	33.9	33
Weaning weight (kg)	10.8	10.5	10.6
Weight at 21 days after weaning	16.5	17.2	17
Weaning at 65 days of age	20.8	21.6	21.9
ADG g/d, weaning to 21 days	266	321	307
ADG g/d, 21 days to end of trial	549	507	583
ADG g/d, weaning to 65 days of age	346	379	384
FCR kg/kg, weaning to 21 days	3.4	2.13	2.16
Diarrhoea index	9.95	10.43	4.78
Degree 1, days	4.29	6	2.88
Degree 2, days	2.14	1.67	1.13
Degree 3, days	0.57	0.56	0

THE EFFECT OF PROGUT^TM AND FORMIC ACID ON PIGLET PERFORMANCE