Evaluation of AviPlus on Growth Performance of Nursery and Growing-Finishing Pigs

W M Hutchens,M D Tokach,K Keppy,H I Calderón,K Stephens,P Maynard,J M Derouchey,J C Woodworth,R D Goodband

doi:10.4148/2378-5977.7989

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of AviPlus (a combination of micro-encapsulated sorbic and citric acids and synthetic thymol and vanillin botanicals; Vetagro Inc., Chicago, IL) on growth performance during the wean-to-finish period in a commercial research environment. A total of 1,215 pigs (L337 × 1050; PIC, Hendersonville, TN) were used in a 156-d wean-to-finish experiment. Pigs were weaned at approximately 21 d of age and placed in pens based on initial body weight (BW) with 27 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. During the 42-day nursery period, pigs were allotted to 1 of 2 treatments in an unbalanced treatment structure with 15 pens (replications) fed the control diet and 30 pens (replications) fed diets containing AviPlus at 6 lb/ton from d 0 to 21 and 2 lb/ton from d 21 to 42. On d 42, pigs were transported as intact pens from the nursery to the commercial finishing facility. During the finishing period 3 treatments were applied, which included: 1) pigs on the control diet in nursery remained on control diets; 2) 50% of pigs in nursery provided AviPlus were then fed 1 lb AviPlus throughout finishing; and 3) 50% of pigs in nursery provided AviPlus were then fed the control diet throughout finishing. All pens on finishing treatments 2 and 3 were allotted based on ending nursery BW to the finishing treatment. There were 15 replications per treatment in the finishing period. From d 0 to 21, pigs fed diets with AviPlus had a tendency for improved (P < 0.058) F/G when compared to pigs fed the control diet; however, there was no evidence of difference (P > 0.05) for ADG, ADFI, or d 21 BW. From d 21 to 42, there was no evidence of difference (P > 0.05) for ADG, ADFI, or F/G. For the overall nursery period (d 0 to 42), pigs fed diets with AviPlus had improved (P < 0.05) F/G when compared to pigs fed the control diet, but there was no evidence of difference (P > 0.05) for d 42 BW, ADG, or ADFI between treatments. From d 42 to 106, there was no evidence of difference (P > 0.05) for ADG, ADFI, and F/G. However, from d 106 to 156, pigs fed diets containing AviPlus in both the nursery and finishing periods had decreased (P < 0.05) ADG when compared to pigs fed the control diet

Highlights

Due to growing public concerns related to antibiotic resistance for antibiotic use and other growth promoters used in swine diets, there is an increased interest to identify alternative ingredients that elicit similar health and performance responses
Calderón,[2] Kaylee Keppy,[3] Kevin Stephens,[3] and Philip Maynard[3]. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of AviPlus on growth performance during the wean-to-finish period in a commercial research environment
From d 0 to 21, pigs fed diets with AviPlus had a tendency for improved (P < 0.058) F/G when compared to pigs fed the control diet; there was no evidence of difference (P > 0.05) for ADG, ADFI, or d 21 body weight (BW)

Summary

Introduction

Due to growing public concerns related to antibiotic resistance for antibiotic use and other growth promoters used in swine diets, there is an increased interest to identify alternative ingredients that elicit similar health and performance responses. The ability to raise healthy pigs with minimal medication and to achieve optimal growth performance is still the desirable goal to be successful from a food safety and economic position. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of AviPlus during the wean-to-finish period in a commercial research environment

Objectives

Results

Conclusion