Piglet Feed Research Articles

62 Growth Performance and Mineral Status of 6 Kg Piglets Fed Reduced Levels of Dietary Calcium

Abstract Imbalances between calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) impair growth performance and bone mineralization. However, reducing dietary limestone may change the buffering capacity of feed in early nursery piglets, which may help prevent post-weaning diarrhea. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of reducing Ca post weaning compared to recommendations outlined by NRC (2012) or a low P diet. Dietary treatments consisted of 1) Low Ca (LCa; Phase 1, 0.51% Ca and 0.47% STTD P), 2) NRC recommendations (NRC; Phase 1, 0.85% Ca and 0.42% STTD P), and 3) a recommendation lower in phosphorus (LP; Phase 1, 0.65% Ca and 0.36% STTD P). Each diet was fed over 4 phases. Piglets (n = 953; 276/275 Fast X PIC 800 genetics) were blocked by room, sex, and initial BW (6 kg). Feed intake and pig weights were recorded weekly. At 12 d and 41 d, blood was collected and Dual-X ray (DXA) measurements were taken using 8 piglets per treatment. Fecal scores were evaluated during wk 4 and 5. Data were analyzed using MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). There were no differences observed in mortality, overall growth performance, plasma Ca and P, and scour scores at either time point. At 12 d, the bone mineral content was reduced (P = 0.001) in LP pigs compared to LCa and NRC. At 41 d, bone mineral content was reduced in NRC in comparison to LCa while LP was intermediate (P = 0.001). Plasma parameters showed an increased magnesium (Mg) and Ca:Mg in LCa (P < 0.01) that can be related to bone resorption to face Ca hypocalcemia. Pigs were healthy with no enteric challenges, limiting the ability to observe a benefit in fecal scores. In conclusion, piglets can maintain growth and bone mineralization through a short-term limestone removal program.

Integration of Metabolomics and Transcriptomicsto Comprehensively Evaluate the Metabolic Effects of Gelsemium elegans on Pigs

Simply SummarySome natural phytogenic feed additives, which contain several active compounds, have been shown to be effective alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Gelsemium elegans (G. elegans) has been used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for many years, and it has an obvious growth-promoting effect on animals such as pigs. To our knowledge, the internal mechanism of the influence of G. elegans on the animal body is still unclear. Here, the plasma metabolomics and liver transcriptional profile of crude extract of G. elegans in pigs were reported for the first time and the metabolic consequences of feeding piglets G. elegans for 45 days were evaluated. The results showed that the addition of 2% G. elegans powder to feed is nontoxic to pigs. In addition, G. elegans could be used as a phytogenic feed additive, which could improve the immune function of piglets, and the latent mechanism of G. elegans may be related to various signaling pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway and PPAR signaling pathway. Collectively, results of the current provide a clearer understanding of the molecular mechanism of the pharmacological effects of G. elegans, which is of great significance for a safer and more rational application of this phytogenic feed additives.Some naturalphytogenic feed additives, which contain several active compounds, have been shown to be effective alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Gelsemium elegans (G. elegans) is a whole grass in the family Loganiaceae. It is a known toxic plant widely distributed in China and has been used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for many years to treat neuropathic pain, rheumatoid pain, inflammation, skin ulcers, and cancer. However, G. elegans not only is nontoxic to animals such as pigs and sheep but also has an obvious growth-promoting effect. To our knowledge, the internal mechanism of the influence of G. elegans on the animal body is still unclear. The goal of this work is to evaluate the metabolic consequences of feeding piglets G. elegans for 45 days based on the combination of transcriptomics and metabolomics. According to growth measurement and evaluation, compared with piglets fed a complete diet, adding 20 g/kg G. elegans powder to the basal diet of piglets significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio. Results of the liver transcriptome suggest that glycine and cysteine-related regulatory pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway and the mTOR signaling pathway, were extensively altered in G. elegans-induced piglets. Plasma metabolomics identified 21 and 18 differential metabolites (p < 0.05) in the plasma of piglets in the positive and negative ion modes, respectively, between G. elegans exposure and complete diet groups. The concentrations of glycine and its derivatives and N-acetylcysteine were higher in the G. elegans exposure group than in the complete diet group.This study demonstrated that G. elegans could be an alternative to antibiotics that improves the immune function of piglets, and the latent mechanism of G. elegans may be related to various signaling pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway and the PPAR signaling pathway.

Globigen Jump Start usage as a replacer for blood plasma in prestarter feed for piglets

At the current stage of development of the feed industry a lot of feed additives are used for animal feeding. Everyone knows that period of piglet’s weaning from sows is always the most critical in the process of pigs’ raising. The further result of fattening depends on this period. Therefore, it is important that the diet is adapted to the age of the piglets and the development of their digestive tract. In recent years, either in the world or in Ukraine, the African swine fever (ASF) has become a widespread disease, leading to the decline and closure of a number of pig farms. This prompted the process of safe feed preparation review, and especially the use of a number of make up feed ingredient. The risk group includes porcine blood plasma and its products, which since 2018 have been temporarily banned for use in pig feed in China and a number of European countries. A positive factor in this is the reduction of new outbreaks of this disease. But the lack of blood plasma in prestarter feed for piglets can lead to reduced productivity of piglets due to the lack of animal protein, reduced feed intake, as blood plasma affects the taste of feed. The article presents the results of the feed additive Globigen Jump Start use instead of blood plasma in pre-starter feed for piglets from birth to 42 days of age and in the conditions of industrial inspection. It was found that the replacement of , blood plasma in pre-starter feed for suckling piglets and piglets after weaning for feed additive Globigen Jump Start contributed to an increase in daily intake by 6 g or by 2.6 %. At the same time, the cost of feed per weight gain 1 kg decreased in the experimental group by 7.89 %. As a result of industrial testing when replacing blood plasma with immunological feed additive in the ratio of 42 kg to 2 kg, respectively, has a significant economic impact on the cost of prestarter feed. This has a positive effect on the piglets' eating and digestibility of feed, which is reflected in better average daily gains, final weight and improved feed conversion and piglet safety.

Providing live black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) improves welfare while maintaining performance of piglets post-weaning

During weaning, piglets experience concurrent social, physical, and nutritional stressors. Consequently, piglets often have poor feed intake and display increased oral manipulative behaviours post-weaning, indicative of compromised welfare. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) possess many attractive properties for pigs and could therefore function as effective edible enrichment, potentially alleviating weaning stress by facilitating exploration and promoting feed intake. In this study, pairs of piglets received a small amount of either live BSFL or wood shavings (8 pens/treatment) scattered throughout the pen twice a day for 11 days after weaning. Home-pen behaviour was scored by instantaneous scan sampling on day 2, 5 and 8, and behavioural responses to a novel environment and novel object were scored on day 10/11. Performance-related parameters were observed regularly. Larvae provisioning increased floor-directed exploration and decreased object-directed exploration, pig-directed oral manipulation, fighting and eating of pellets, and reduced neophobia towards a novel object. Pellet intake was significantly decreased by BSFL provisioning during day 4–11 post-weaning, although feed and net energy intake including BSFL never differed between treatments. BSFL provisioning did not influence piglet growth, feed efficiency, energy efficiency, and faecal consistency. To conclude, live BSFL provisioning positively affected post-weaning piglet behaviour while maintaining performance.

Theoretical background for a robotic device designed for suckling piglets nursing

The pig industry in Russia annually ramps up production through the improved intensity, high prolificacy of sows, high average daily weight gain, low conversion rate, and high slaughter yield. From 2005 to 2019, the pig production volume increased by above 2.6 times and, according to forecasts, this trend will continue. The greater domestic production contributes to a reduction in the share of imported products, which at the end of 2019 was 2.4% maximum. Complete self-sufficiency in pork, pork offal and pork fat increased the export capacity of these products to roughly100 thousand tons, with a forecast of 270 thousand tons by 2024. To achieve this indicator, however, requires the more effective use of animal genetic potential with a simultaneous decrease in production costs. A promising direction for addressing this challenge is to increase the number of weaned piglets per sow per farrowing. The current solving tools are various devices for manual and automated supplementary feeding of piglets. Their application, however, results in many stressful situations, the spread of gastrointestinal diseases and a drop in the overall litter weight. A robotic device is under development to avoid these implications and replace a sow completely and not merely provide a supplementary feeding of suckling pigs from larger litters. The robotic device operates on a cyclic algorithm, which includes the following operations: the opening of valves for supplying the ingredients to prepare a feed mixture; its direct distribution to animals; the system rinsing; functioning of electric motors for mixing the feed components; functioning of servo drives to bring the locking devices and teats to a working position; operation of relay for giving sound and light signals; switching on and off the disinfection system. The article presents a mathematical model for determining the running time of each operation within the work cycle and assessing the device’s energy consumption in general terms. The created model takes into account the change in the prepared feed mixture consumption depending on the age of the suckling pigs and allows selecting the required technological equipment for the manufacture of the robotic device’s prototype.

The Effectiveness of Dietary Byproduct Antioxidants on Induced CYP Genes Expression and Histological Alteration in Piglets Liver and Kidney Fed with Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of a byproduct mixture derived from grapeseed and sea buckthorn oil industry to mitigate the harmful damage produced by ochratoxin A and aflatoxin B1 at hepatic and renal level in piglets after weaning. Forty cross-bred TOPIGS-40 hybrid piglets after weaning were assigned to three experimental groups (E1, E2, E3) and one control group (C), and fed with experimental diets for 30 days. The basal diet was served as a control and contained normal compound feed for starter piglets without mycotoxins. The experimental groups were fed as follows: E1—basal diet plus a mixture (1:1) of two byproducts (grapeseed and sea buckthorn meal); E2—the basal diet experimentally contaminated with mycotoxins (479 ppb OTA and 62ppb AFB1); and E3—basal diet containing 5% of the mixture (1:1) of grapeseed and sea buckthorn meal and contaminated with the mix of OTA and AFB1. After 4 weeks, the animals were slaughtered, and tissue samples were taken from liver and kidney in order to perform gene expression and histological analysis. The gene expression analysis showed that when weaned piglets were fed with contaminated diet, the expression of most analyzed genes was downregulated. Among the CYP450 family, CYP1A2 was the gene with the highest downregulation. According to these results, in liver, we found that mycotoxins induced histomorphological alterations in liver and kidney and had an effect on the expression level of CYP1A2, CYP2A19, CYP2E1, and CYP3A29, but we did not detect important changes in the expression level of CY4A24, MRP2 and GSTA1 genes.

Effects of microencapsulated organic acids on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial counts, and blood profiles in weaning pigs.

This study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of a microencapsulated mixture of organic acids (MOA) with low protein in piglet feed on growth performance, diarrhea score, nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial counts, and blood profiles in weaning pigs. A total of 80 pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc; 6.8 ± 0.48 kg] were randomly assigned to four dietary treatment groups: high protein (HP); low protein (LP); MOA1, LP + 0.2% MOA; and MOA2, LP + 0.3% MOA. The MOA2 group had higher average daily weight gains (during days 0–14 and days 0–28), diarrhea score (during days 0–14, during days 14–28 and days 0–28) and greater digestibility of dry matter (days 14 and 28) compared to the LP group (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the pigs fed diets with the MOA1 and MOA2 in blood profiles and fecal microflora. In conclusion, this study indicates that piglets fed 0.3% MOA in low protein diets maintained similar growth performance and nutrient digestibility, but alleviated the incidence of diarrhea compared to piglets fed high protein diets.

Calcitic seaweed (

Context Lithothamnion calcareum is a calcitic seaweed (CS), rich in calcium (Ca) and other minerals, with potential for use in piglet feeding. Aim The aims were to compare L. Calcareum (CS) with calcitic limestone (CL) as a source of Ca for use in piglet feeding for effects on total tract digestibility and daily balance of Ca, growth performance and serum variables, and to assess solubility of Ca sources through in vitro testing. Methods In Expt 1, an availability assay was performed on 24 crossbred male piglets with initial average body weight (BW) of 15.17 ± 0.70 kg in a randomised complete block design with six replicates of four treatments and one piglet per experimental unit. The starter dietary treatments were: basal diet with minimal amount of Ca (0.068%); diet with low Ca (0.018%); and two diets containing either CL or CS to provide 0.82% total Ca. In Expt 2 (growth performance), 96 crossbred male piglets, with initial average BW of 6.01 ± 0.70 kg were assigned in a randomised complete block design with eight replicates of three treatments (CL, CL + CS, or CS) and four piglets per experimental unit, assessed over pre-starter phases I and II and the starter phase. Key results In Expt 1, Ca source did not influence (P &gt; 0.05) apparent and true digestibility or daily balance and concentration of Ca in the piglets. In Expt 2, no significant differences (P &gt; 0.05) existed for growth performance during the pre-starter I and II phases, although a trend (P ≤ 0.1) was evident for final BW, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the pre-starter II phase. Piglets fed CL showed a reduction in FCR during the starter phase (P = 0.02) and for the total period (P = 0.007). Final BW and daily weight gain did not differ between CL and CS diets during the starter phase or for the total period. No effect (P &gt; 0.05) was observed of Ca source on Ca and phosphorus concentrations in serum. CS had a solubility 1.9 times higher than CL. Conclusion Piglet performance parameters were generally similar for diets including CS and CL as a source of Ca. Implications Based on the evaluation criteria used in these experiments, L. calcareum has potential to replace calcitic limestone as an alternative source of Ca.

Potential impacts of guava seed meal on piglet feeding as a dietary fibre alternative

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional-energetic value of guava seed meal (GSM) for piglets in the starter phase and its effects on feed digestibility, growth performance, plasma parameter and diarrhea incidence. Assay I (digestibility testing) involved 16 entire male piglets with average initial body weight of 18.91 ± 1.36 kg were distributed in a randomized block design, allocated to two treatments with eight replications. Treatments consisted of a reference diet and a test diet with a 20% replacement by GSM. In assay II (performance testing), 128 entire male piglets and average initial body weight of 14.47 ± 2.09 kg were distributed in a randomized block design, with four treatments repeated four times in two blocks. Treatments consisted of increasing levels of GSM (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%). Values higher were found for glutamine and arginine. The high GE value of the GSM was reflected in an elevated AMCGE of the feed, with greater DM and CP digestibility. There was difference (P < 0.05) for average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, urea and diarrhea. In conclusion, GSM does not affect apparent nutrient digestibility, and it promotes greater feed intake up to 10% inclusion and 15% improves diarrhea incidence.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ РЕЗИСТЕНТНОСТИ ОРГАНИЗМА СВИНЕЙ ПРИ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИИ В ПИТАНИИ КОМПЛЕКСНОГО МИКРОКОРМОВОГО ПРОДУКТА

The object of research is the components of feed additives, namely dihydroquercetin, blue-green algae spirulina and organic iodine, in various combinations used in feeding piglets from the first days of feeding and before transferring them to fattening, at the age of 90 days. Three groups of piglets, one control and two experimental ones, were formed according to the principle of analogues. Piglets of the first experimental group received to the general diet, a feed additive MKBA-1, consisting of Spirulina – 1 mg, dihydroquercetin – 3 mg, organic iodine – 1,5 mg per 1,5 kg of live weight per day; piglets of the second experimental group to the main diet received a feed supplement ICBA-1, consisting of Spirulina – 2 mg and dihydroquercetin – 2 mg per 3 kg of live weight per day. The use of dihydroquercetin, blue-green algae spirulina and organic iodine in various combinations in feeding piglets contributed to an increase in the adaptive ability of the body, pathogenetic reactivity and correction of metabolic processes, which provided a higher realization of the genetic potential of pigs. The introduction of feed additives into the diet of pigs contributed to an increase in the bactericidal activity of blood serum in the first experimental group by 1%, in the second experimental group by 14,1%, compared with the control group. The number of white blood cells in piglets of the experimental groups was lower and red blood cells is higher compared to piglets in the control group, which was reflected in the hemoglobin content of blood, which was higher than piglets from the control group by 2% and 8,9%, respectively.

Fungal contamination of pig farm feeds

The aim of this study was to establish the total fungal (mould) count in 79 commercial pig farm feed samples (42 samples for piglets, 29 samples for fattening pigs and 8 samples for sows) collected from the Serbian feed producers during the three-year period (2017-2019), as well as to evaluate the percentage of contamination samples by fungi, especially species from Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium genera. Using standard mycological methods, the total count and identification of fungi were determined. Total fungal count was ranging from 1 ? 102 to 1.41 ? 105 cfu g-1 in the feed samples for piglets. Furthermore, in the feed samples for fattening pigs it ranged from1 ? 102 to 2.54 ? 105 cfu g-1, and from 1 ? 102 to 1.93 ? 105 cfu g-1 in the feed samples for sows. It has established the impermissible limit of total fungal count in 3.45% and 4.76% of a feed for fattening pigs and feed for piglets, respectively. Statistical analysis of the total number of fungi did not establish significant differences between the examined feed groups. Fusarium species were present in the most feed samples for fattening pigs (65.52%), followed by the feed for sows (62.50%) and piglets (47.62%). Aspergillus species were determined in 59.52, 58.62 and 37.50% feed samples for piglets, fattening pigs and sows, respectively. Penicillium species contaminated the lowest percentage of feed samples for fattening pigs (27.59%) and the highest percentage of feed samples for sows (37.50%). In a small number of samples Alternaria, Mucor, and Rhizopus species were identified. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the investigation of fungal contamination is an important indicator of a hygienic condition of feed intended for the nutrition of farm pigs. In addition, the percentage of fungal contamination of the examined samples indicates a potentially high risk to animal health. Due to that, a regular mycological evaluation is necessary to assess nutritional quality as one of the fundamental criteria for feed safety.

Еfficiency of using pre-starter compound feed with protein and vitamin-mineral premix in feeding piglets of early weaning

Еfficiency of using pre-starter compound feed with protein and vitamin-mineral premix in feeding piglets of early weaning

Construction of Recombinant Producers of Enzyme Preparations for Feed Production with an Expression System Based on Penicillium verruculosum Fungus

Producer strains have been created with an expression system based on the recipient strain Penicillium verruculosum 537 (ΔniaD) and the cellobiohydrolase-1 gene promoter. These strains made it possible to obtain new enzyme preparations (EPs) for feed production that were characterized by a high content of endodepolymerases (endo-β-1,4-glucanases and endo-β-1,4-xylanase), which degrade nonstarch polysaccharides (NSPs) of grain cereals used as a feed component. The proportion of endodepolymerases in the new EPs was 44–68% of the total protein content (as compared to 15% in the recipient-based preparation), whereas the percentage of exodepolymerases (cellobiohydrolases) fell to 8–26% as compared to 60% in the recipient strain-based product. The new EPs have a high specific activity of endodepolymerases, which was 1.8–4.6 times greater than that in the EP obtained from the recipient strain, and the specific activity of exodepolymerases decreased by 2.0–3.7 times. The new EPs demonstrated endoglucanase and xylanase activities in a wide range of pH and temperature, including the physiological values of these parameters (pH 3.0 and 7.0, and t 37–38°C). They were characterized by high endodepolymerase stability under the action of digestive proteases (pepsin and trypsin). The EPs also retained their endoglucanase and xylanase activities during feed granulation (80°C). The xylanase contained in the new EPs was not affected by proteinaceous inhibitors from cereals. Experimental batches of EPs were made by the Agroferment enzyme-producing plant and were tested in broiler and piglet feeding. The addition of the new commercial EPs to the animals’ diets increased their live weight, reduced feed and protein intake, and decreased the metabolic energy per unit of body weight, improving digestibility and assimilability of feed nutrients, especially raw fiber and NSP.

РОЗРОБКА ВИРОБНИЧОЇ ПРОГРАМИ ТА ОБ’ЄМНО-ПЛАНУВАЛЬНИХ РІШЕНЬ ПРИМІЩЕНЬ ДЛЯ ДВОФАЗНОЇ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ ВИРОЩУВАННЯ МОЛОДНЯКУ СВИНЕЙ

У статті показані основні переваги сучасної промислової двофазної технології та умови для оптимального утримання й годівлі свиноматок і поросят. Для її успішного впровадження розроблена виробнича програма та об’ємно-планувальні рішення приміщень для вирощування молодняку на промисловій свинофермі малого типу потужністю виробництва 4000 голів молодняку в рік. Наведено показники виробничої програми виробництва свинини для ферми малого типу. Розраховані основні технологічні параметри потокового виробництва: кількість технологічних груп, тривалість перебування тварин у групі, число днів санітарного розриву. Показано розрахунок головомісць для холостих, умовно-поросних, явно-поросних, підсисних свиноматок, поросят-сисунів, поросят на дорощуванні в маточних станках, ремонтного молодняку на промисловій фермі, за умов реалізації поросят в 65 днів. Наведено об’ємно-планувальні рішення, приміщення № 1 - для утримання кнурів, холостих, умовно-поросних, поросних свиноматок і приміщення, № 2 - для утримання підсисних свиноматок і поросят-сисунів та їх дорощування до 65-денного віку. Крім того, наведено креслення загального вигляду станків для опоросу і вирощування молодняку свиней за сухого ( СП-4ФС) і комбінованого ( СП-4ФК) типу годівлі. В роботі приводиться коротка характеристика обладнання для утримання, годівлі, вентиляції, гноєвидалення та очищення забрудненого повітря. Наведена порівняльна характеристика ефективності проектно-технологічних рішень приміщення для утримання підсисних свиноматок і молодняку свиней. Зокрема, в ній показано кількість станкомісць, оборот станкомісць, кількість дорощеного молодняку, отриманого з одного станкомісця за рік, валовий вихід продукції на одне станкомісце за рік, вихід продукції на 1 м2 виробничої площі за базового та нового варіантів. Розроблені проектно-технологічні і об’ємно-планувальні рішення приміщення для опоросу свиноматок і утримання відлучених поросят до 65-денного віку з новим станковим обладнанням для промислової свиноферми потужністю 4000 голів дають можливість отримати валовий вихід продукції на одне станкомісце 12,95 ц за рік та вихід продукції на 1 м2 виробничої площі 3,07 ц (проти 10,44 ц за рік і 1,39 ц у базовому варіанті, відповідно).

Pre-weaning adaptation responses in piglets fed milk replacer with gradually increasing amounts of wheat.

Hyperprolific sows rear more piglets than they have teats, and to accommodate this, milk replacers are often offered as a supplement. Milk replacers are based on bovine milk, yet components of vegetable origin are often added. This may reduce growth, but could also accelerate maturational changes. Therefore, we investigated the effect of feeding piglets a milk replacer with gradually increasing levels of wheat flour on growth, gut enzyme activity and immune function compared with a diet based entirely on bovine milk. The hypothesis tested was that adding a starch component (wheat flour) induces maturation of the mucosa as measured by higher digestive activity and improved integrity and immunity of the small intestines (SI). To test this hypothesis, piglets were removed from the sow at day 3 and fed either a pure milk replacer diet (MILK) or from day 11 a milk replacer diet with increasing levels of wheat (WHEAT). The WHEAT piglets had an increased enzyme activity of maltase and sucrase in the proximal part of the SI compared with the MILK group. There were no differences in gut morphology, histopathology and gene expression between the groups. In conclusion, the pigs given a milk replacer with added wheat displayed immunological and gut mucosal enzyme maturational changes, indicatory of adaptation towards a vegetable-based diet. This was not associated with any clinical complications, and future studies are needed to show whether this could improve responses in the subsequent weaning process.

Influence of flavored drinking water on voluntary intake and performance of nursing and post-weaned piglets

Water is an absolute requirement in the daily needs of the pig. It has been suggested that when sows have a limited milk production, piglets may not consume enough water which will impact on their hydration. Eighty mixed parity sows of a high prolificacy genetic line were used to evaluate the impact of a flavor added to the drinking water for piglets on the voluntary water intake and performance during nursing phase and first week post-weaning. Sows and their respective litters were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design among the four treatments according to parity order and body weight 24 h post-farrowing. The treatments represented by control where piglets received standard water (T1) and other three levels of flavor inclusion in the water (T2 = 100 ppm; T3 = 200 ppm and T4 = 400 ppm). Piglets were allowed free access to water treatments via a semi-automatic water dispenser from d 3 until weaning (approx. 21 day). At weaning a total of 936 piglets were weighed, selected and distributed in a completely randomized experimental block design among treatments in the nursery pens according to weight (light, moderate and heavy), sex (male and female) and previous lactation treatment. The piglets were housed in the nursery facilities and were continuously offered the same four treatments that were used during the lactation phase until 7-day post-weaning. The flavor added to the drinking water significantly increased the piglets water (P = 0.047) and creep feed (P = 0.001) intake, which impacted positively on piglet average daily gain, and piglet weaning weight during the nursing phase. Treatments also influenced piglets’ nursery voluntary total water (P = 0.0001) and total feed consumption (P = 0.002). Also the piglets’ total average weight gain (P = 0.042), and pen daily gain (P = 0.003) and final weight (P = 0.0001) were influenced by the water flavor. In conclusion, this experiment has demonstrated that the inclusion of flavor compounds in the drinking water of the piglets during nursing and post-weaning phases has the potential to improve piglet performance. Our findings lead us to believe that the strategic use of a water flavor to manipulate the sensorial properties of water is a viable strategy to increase the piglet's voluntary water and feed intake and as a consequence improve litter performance at weaning and during the first week post-weaning all of which can help prepare the animal for the negative effects of the weaning process.

Interaction of space allowance and diet on growth performance and physiological responses of piglets raised in tropical conditions.

Intensification of pig production in developing countries has resulted in increased number of animals per unit area leading to welfare and growth performance issues. This study was then performed to evaluate the effects of space allowance and dietary energy and amino acid content on growth performance and physiological parameters of piglets reared under tropical conditions. A total of 1280 piglets (castrated males and females) with initial body weight of 5.9 ± 0.4kg were used. Animals were distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement composed by two space allowances (0.30 and 0.22m2/animal) and two diets during 43 to 63days of age (control and experimental diet with increased ME and AA content). The experimental period lasted 42days subdivided into four phases according to the growth stage of the animals: pre-initial I (21 to 27days of age), pre-initial II (28 to 34days), initial I (35 to 42days), and initial II (43 to 63days). During pre-initial I and II, and initial I phases, pigs housed at a space allowance of 0.30 and 22m2/animal had similar (P > 0.05) feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion. During initial phase II, space allowance did not affect (P > 0.05) feed intake nor weight gain of the animals. Whereas, pigs fed the experimental diet had greater weight gain when compared to the control group (530 vs. 515g/day, P = 0.03). According to our results, reducing space allowance from 0.30 to 22m2/animal during the nursery phase (21 to 63days of age) had negligible effects on piglet feed intake and weight gain, whereas feeding piglets with diets containing higher energy and amino levels resulted in greater weight gain.

ЕКСПЛУАТАЦІЙНО-ГОСПОДАРСЬКА ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ТИПОВИХ СТАНКІВ ДЛЯ ДВОФАЗНОЇ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ ВИРОЩУВАННЯ СВИНЕЙ

Успішний розвиток галузі свинарства потребує постійного моніторингу технологічного обладнання, спрямованого на підвищення комфорту тварин. Особлива роль в цьому питанні належить створенню добробуту при утриманні підсисних свиноматок з поросятами. З метою визначення ефективності застосування типових станків ОСМ-60 і ОСМ-120 для двофазної технології вирощування свиней, нами проведено дослідження їх експлуатаційно-господарських особливостей. Встановлено, що поросята в період дорощування в станках ОСМ-60 на відпочинок, рух і поїдання корму затрачували 1062,55±17,83; 205,88±18,06; 171,57±6,15 хв., в станку ОСМ-120 – 1075,15±16,08; 201,67±18,66; 163,18±5,53 хв. Жива маса поросяти у віці 30 днів, які утримувалися в станках ОСМ-60 і ОСМ-120 склала 7,51±0,19; 7,21±0,13 кг, в 90 днів – 33,70±0,63; 31,51±0,58 кг. Збереженість поросят у підсисний період склала, відповідно, 91,66±5,02 і 89,58±4,41 %. Затрати праці на прибирання одного станка вдень склали, відповідно, 93,33±5,51 і 76,43±3,01 сек. Проведені дослідження дають підставу вважати, що конструктивні відмінності станків ОСМ-60 і ОСМ-120 не впливають на показники продуктивності тварин, але деякі параметри об’ємно-планувальних рішень потребують удосконалення за такими напрямами: покращення умов праці операторів, забезпечення стовідсоткової трансформації внутрішніх огороджень, розробка пристроїв для об’єднання декількох гнізд, годівлі поросят і свиноматок різними кормами та забезпечення рухової (ігрової) активності.

Test results of heat heater on the feeding plot for 1300 heads

Experience was gained in introducing a heat utilizer in the area of piglet feeding for 1300 heads. In the process of heat exchange, the heat produced by animals and heating equipment, which goes to heat the supply air, is utilized. In the calculation for the year, this saves up to 84.1% of the cost of heating industrial premises.

Jejunal inflammatory cytokines, barrier proteins and microbiome-metabolome responses to early supplementary feeding of Bamei suckling piglets

BackgroundDietary intervention has been reported to improve intestinal health. The intestinal microbiota of newborn animals plays a fundamental role in the development of intestinal function and the innate immune system. However, little is currently known about dietary interventions in the gut microbiota and barrier function of livestock, especially suckling Bamei piglets. To this end, we studied the effect of early dietary supplementation on intestinal bacterial communities and intestinal barrier function in piglets.Results10 purebred Bamei sows were randomly allocated into two groups. In group one, the piglets received a supplementary milk replacer on day 7 of age, whereas the other control group was allowed sow’s milk alone. At 21 days, 18 and 17, respectively, piglets in each group of average weight were randomly selected and sacrificed. Tissue and digesta samples were collected from the jejunum to evaluate differences in the microbiome-metabolome and the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (TLR4, TNFα and IL-8) and barrier proteins (ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1). Sequencing of 16S rRNA revealed that ES improved the gut microbiome composition of Bamei suckling piglets. The relative abundances of some bacterial species such as Lactobacillales, Romboutsia, Actinobacillus, Bacteroides were significantly reduced in the ES group. Metabolomics analysis indicated that 23 compounds were enriched and 35 compounds decreased in the ES group. And correlation analysis demonstrated that some gut bacterial genera were highly correlated with altered gut microbiota-related metabolites. Meanwhile, ES of Bamei suckling piglets altered the gene expression of inflammatory cytokine and barrier protein in the jejunum.ConclusionsIn summary, these results provide important insights on the relationships between jejunal microbiota and related metabolites, and jejunal barrier function during the early life of Bamei suckling piglets.