110 Effects of Supplementation of Refined Functional Carbohydrates in Sow and Piglet Diets on Performance During pre-Weaning and in Nursery in Pigs Fed Diets without any Antimicrobials

Abstract

Abstract The objective of the study was to test effects of supplementation of Refined Functional Carbohydrates in sow and piglet diets on performance during pre-weaning and in nursery in pigs fed diet without antibiotics and pharmacological level of Zinc Oxide. Hybrid-hyper prolific sows (n = 269) and their litters [(Landrace x Large-white) x Pietrain] were used for the trial. All sows participated in the gestation phase, but only 94 of them were monitored throughout the lactation phase and their piglets during nursery phase. During the first 90 days of gestation all sows were fed a common standard diet. On approximately d 90 of gestation, sows were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: 1) control group (CONTROL, n = 134), and 2) RFC group (0.02% CELMANAX SCP, n = 135), until transfer to farrowing unit (d 110 of gestation). A subset of sows received the corresponding lactation feed (CONTROL n = 54 and 0.02% CELMANAX SCP, n =4 6) after entering the farrowing room and throughout lactation. The day after farrowing, piglets were weighed individually and the number of piglets born alive, stillborn, and mummified were recorded. The piglets were supplemented with creep feed from day 7 of lactation with identical treatments as their sows. Sow body condition and feed intake during lactation and rectal temperature post farrowing were recorded. Piglet BW at weaning, pre-weaning mortality and medical treatments were recorded. Fecal score of sows and litter during pre-weaning were also recorded. At weaning, piglets were assigned to the 2 treatments (CONTROL and CELMANAX SCP, 0.02%), according to lactation treatment with 30 piglets/pen and 22 pens/treatment. Treatments were fed in the first two phases of nursery, 0-7 days and 7-21 days post weaning. Nursery pig performance was recorded. Data were analyzed with statistic software Minitab version 17.0 Windows using sow as the experimental unit for variables of gestation and lactation stages, and pen for the variables during nursery period. Sows that received diets supplemented with RFC showed a reduced mortality rate of piglets at 24 h of life (P=0.05). At weaning, an increase in piglet BW (P< 0.05) and a trend for greater ADG (P = 0.07) was noted in piglets from RFC supplemented multiparous sows. Nursery pigs fed diets supplemented with RFC had greater BW (P=0.03) and ADG (P=0.03) and a trend for greater ADFI during the first 21 days of nursery (P=0.08). In conclusion, sows supplemented with RFC in late gestation diet (d 90 to d 110) had reduced piglet mortality 24 h postpartum. Continued supplementation of RFC in lactation diet of sows and in piglet creep increased piglet weaning weight. Piglets supplemented with RFC in the early nursery stage (0 to 21d) also saw an improvement in the main productive indicators.