PSIV-14 Evaluation of a Novel Nutritional Supplement (Furst Protect Direct) Via Drinking Water on Growth Performance in Nursery Pigs

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of Furst Protect Direct (FPD) as a nutritional water supplement on growth performance in nursery pigs. A total of 628 DNA-sired nursery pigs (initial body weight: 5.42 ± 0.13 kg) were randomly assigned to 2 water treatments and were blocked by body weight and gender in a randomized complete block design. There were 27 pigs in each pen and 12 replicate pens per treatment. The water treatments were 0 and 25 mL/L of FPD in stock solution supplied by water medicators (1:128 dilution). Pigs were fed conventional corn and soybean meal-based diets throughout the 42-d experiment and the water treatments were provided from d 0 to d 7. Water consumption was measured daily by treatment and body weight and feed disappearance were recorded by pen on d 0, 7, 21, and 42. Data were used to calculate average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed efficiency. To simulate commercial practice, pigs were treated with antibiotics through the water medicator after d 7 and injectable antibiotic if required, and those that did not respond were removed and placed in sick pens. At the end of 42 days, the number of dead (mortality) and sick pen pigs (morbidity) were calculated. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure in Minitab with Fisher’s t-test determining differences between treatments. Results indicated that pigs provided FPD from d 0 to 7 tended to have improved (P = 0.070) average daily gain (68 vs. 86 g) and feed efficiency (1.70 vs. 1.33; Table 1). In addition, mortality tended to be reduced (P = 0.080) for pigs provided FPD (1.9 vs. 0.3 pig). These results suggested providing FPD via drinking water for the first 7 days after weaning tended to improve growth performance and increase livability of nursery pigs.