Optimising feed intake of young piglets is a real challenge and requires a lot of knowledge and expertise of dietary palatability. The taste of feed is not only determined by the nature of its ingredients, but also by its composition. All this has to be taken into account when formulating prestarter diets that improve feed intake and the zootechnical performance of young piglets.
Around weaning both suckling and weaned piglets have a high need for fresh and clean water. Its availability is appreciated by showing a better daily gain and feed intake.
To optimise nutrition for weaning piglets, DSM developed a modern concept which is based on ensuring growth through securing intestinal health.
By Luc Levrouw, Christophe Paulus, Matthias Wiemann, DSM Animal Nutrition & Health
Feeding live yeast through lactation can improve reproductive efficiency with reduced weaning to oestrus interval and reduced sow weight loss as well as improve birth weight. This article focuses on the effect of live yeast in lactation on improving weaning weight and post-weaning pig performance.
By Dr Peter Wilcock, AB Vista, Chesterfield, MO, USA
One of the latest developments in reducing diarrhoea among piglets is the use of organic trace minerals. This could provide the swine industry with new tools to reduce the use of antibiotics. A reduction is important because of an increasing development of resistant bacteria, which may cause consumer health and safety issues.
By Hans Aae, head of nutrition, Vitfoss, Denmark
Since September 2005 porcine plasma has been re-allowed as a feed ingredient for pigs and poultry in the European Union. Coincidentally this fitted in perfectly with the ban on Antimicrobial Growth Promoters (AMGP), which was imposed on the 1st January 2006, because plasma also improves piglets’ growth performance and health without developing antibiotic resistance.
By Geert van der Velden, MSc, product manager, Sonac
Plant based mixtures, when chosen properly, have a positive effect on feed intake and consequently growth performance in weaning pigs. They contribute to nutrient digestibility resulting in fewer light weight piglets and more full-value pigs at slaughter.
By Karola Wendler and Gina Medina, Delacon, Austria
Maintaining vitality and uniformity in piglets is a major challenge to overcome in the quest to maximise the number of pigs reaching market weight. Piglet feeding strategies including probiotics and enzymes can help producers overcome this challenge and stay profitable.
By Gwendolyn Jones, global technical manager, Danisco Animal Nutrition, UK