Agrofarm Zdirec, Czech Republic, 2002

Piglet trial at Agrofarm Zdirec, Czech Republic, 2002

The aim of the trial was to test the effect of Progut^TM against antibiotic Avilamycin. The trial was carried out at a commercial farm and supervised by Dr. V. Prokop and Prof. J. Smola. The trial design is presented in the following table.

	Group - Diet
Parameter	K	P
Group	Control Group	Experimental Group
Treatment	Avilamycin 30 ppm	ProgutTM 0.3%
Initial number of piglets	132	127
Number of Litters -sows	6	7
-gilts	9	7
-total	15	14
Birth weight, kg	1.57	1.49

TRIAL DESIGN AT AGROFARM ZDIREC

Trial feeds contained expanded cereals, SBM, milk products, amino acids, minerals and premixes. The only difference bewteen the tested feeds was the additive used. The pre-starter diets were given to piglets from 7 days of age to weaning (28 days of age); from weaning to 42 days of age (end of the test) the prestarter diers were the only source of nutrients and energy. The piglets were weighed at birth, at weaning, and at the end of the test period. Feed consumption was recorded seperately for each group; from birth to weaning, from weaning to 42 days of age, and total feed consumption. The following parameters were monitored:

- Piglet growth performance

- Feed conversion efficiency

- Health status

- Piglet mortality

The test was performed under continuous technical and veterinary supervision

Results and Discussion

Parameter	Unit	Control group (K)		Trial group (P)
		X	Index	X	Index
Initial live weight	kg	1.57	100	1.49	95
Weaning weight	kg	8.74	100	8.39	96
Daily weight gain	g	255	100	243	95
Feed intake	g	438	100	373	78
Mortality	piglets	4	100	9	225
Mortality	%	3.1	100	7.6	245

RESULTS FROM BIRTH TO WEANING (AT 28 DAYS OF AGE)

Due to a relatively low feed consumption before weaning, the pre-weaning performance results were little influenced by pre-starter diets. This should be taken into account when evaluating the above results. A lower production efficiency and lower feed intake in the trial group was probably caused by lower birth weight. Most deaths occured in the first 2-3 weeks after birth when the effect of the ingredient under study was not yet significant.

The period from weaning to the end of the test (42 days of age)

In this period a favourable effect of Progut^TM became evident, which is shown both by production efficiency parameters and deaths recorded. Feed containing Progut^TM resulted in 4% higher daily weight gain, 4% impovement in feed conversion efficiency and 40% lower mortality.

Parameter	Unit	Control Group (K)		Trial Group (P)
		X	Index	X	Index
Weaning weight	kg	8.74	100	8.39	96
Final weight (day 42)*	kg	11.37	100	11.03	97
Daily weight gain**	g	183	100	190	104
Feed intake per piglet	kg	3.92	100	3.97	101
FCR	kg/kg	1.554	100	1.496	96
Mortality	piglets	9	100	5	56
Mortality	%	7.0	100	4.2	60

RESULTS FROM WEANING TO 42 DAYS OF AGE

*Only live piglets

**Including the weight gain of piglets that died during this period