PSIV-5 The Utilization of Alltech’s Seed, Feed, Weed Piglet Program as an Alternative to Zinc Oxide on the Growth, Feed Efficiency and Mortality of Newly Weaned Pigs

Abstract

Abstract Achieving a healthy gut with a suitable microbial population in place will maximize the health and lifetime performance of piglets and, concurrently, profitability. Natural nutritional strategies that promote gut health and development in young pigs without zinc oxide (ZnO) are gaining considerable interest. Alltech’s Seed, Feed, Weed (SFW) program is designed to promote favorable microbial communities in the gut, optimize gut structures, and support the immune system; all of which will positively impact the growth and health of young piglets. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the SFW piglet program as an alternative to ZnO supplementation on the growth, feed efficiency and mortality of newly weaned pigs. Newly weaned pigs were allocated to one of two dietary treatments in 3 experiments. All experiments were carried out on commercial pig units in Spain. Dietary treatments were a basal pre-starter and starter diet containing 3,000 ppm ZnO (CONTROL), and a SFW piglet pre-starter and starter pack containing 0 ppm ZnO (SFW). In Exp. 1, pigs (n = 431) were weaned at 28 days old and fed the experimental pre-starter diets for 9 days. In Exp. 2, pigs (n = 295) were weaned at 28 days old and fed the experimental pre-starter and starter diets for 35 days. In Exp. 3, pigs (n = 311) were weaned at 28 days old and fed the experimental pre-starter and starter diets for 21 days. Pig performance was recorded. In experiment 1, SFW-fed pigs had similar average daily gain (ADG; 142 g/d vs 148 g/d) and average daily feed intake (ADFI; 149 g/d vs. 167 g/d) to CONTROL fed pigs. Feed efficiency (FE) was 1.05 and 1.13 for SFW and CONTROL piglets, respectively, resulting in SFW fed piglets being heavier at the end of the treatment period (7.65 kg vs. 7.45 kg). In experiment 2, overall, ADG (308 g/d vs. 316 g/d) and ADFI (423 g/d vs. 444 g/d) were similar between SFW and CONTROL fed piglets, respectively. Th SFW piglets had greater FE than CONTROL pigs (1.37 vs. 1.41). In experiment 3, there was no effect of treatment on ADG (356 g/d vs. 355 g/d) and ADFI (410 g/d vs. 420 g/d) or piglet body weight at the end of the study (12.8 kg vs. 12.7 kg). Feed efficiency was improved (1.21 vs. 1.24) and piglet mortality was reduced (3.4 % vs. 6.9 %) in SFW fed piglets compared with CONTROL fed piglets. In conclusion, the SFW program may prove to be a suitable alternative to ZnO by positively influencing the gut health of piglets and ensuring that piglet performance and health is maintained in the absence of ZnO.