Feed & Additive Magazine Issue 25 February 2023

ISSUE FOCUS 22 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2023 piglets, with a homogeneous distribution amongst the sows’ groups. It was clear that the addition of the nutritional emulsifier in lactation diets increased the piglet weight gain from birth till weaning for both inclusion strategies. Compared to the control group, piglet growth increased by 8.6% for the reduction of energy treatment and by 7.3% for the on-top treatment. Enhanced piglet growth can be explained by the numerical improvement of the milk production of the sows related to the addition of the nutritional emulsifier (Figure 2). Moreover, the feed conversion rate of the sows, measured by the kg of feed consumed divided by the kg of piglet weight gain, was numerically improved (Figure 3). No effects on sows’ feed intake and piglets’ mortality could be observed. Beneficial effects on health were observed by an improved colostrum Brix value. The Brix value was measured by a refractometer (a device measuring the refraction index) within 12 hours after delivery and is an estimation of the immunoglobulins G (IgG) in the colostrum. Higher IgG intake could result in an improved immune function of the suckling piglets. When classifying the proportion of sows having a poor (< 19.9), limit (20 – 24.9), adequate (25 – 29.9) and good (> 30) Brix value, a higher proportion of sows having an adequate Brix value in the nutritional emulsifier treatments was observed (53% with energy reduction treatment and 58% with ontop treatment, compared to 38% for the control). The combination of improved weight gain of the piglets, milk production and feed conversion rate of the sows showed that using a nutritional emulsifier, with on-top or reformulation feeding strategies, enables enhanced fat digestion and energy efficiency for optimal performance and health of sows and their piglets. SUPPORT DURING POST-WEANING STRESS As mentioned previously, the digestive system of piglets at weaning is still immature and limits the digestibility efficiency of nutrients. On top of that, weaned piglets suffer from post-weaning stress due to environmental and nutritional challenges. The weaning period can negatively impact their immune system, health status and overall production. In order to test the effect of nutritional emulsifiers to support Figure 2. Daily milk production of sows fed a control diet or a similar diet with a nutritional emulsifier, either on-top or with energy reduction. Figure 3. Feed conversion rate of sows fed a control diet or a similar diet with a nutritional emulsifier, either on-top or with energy reduction.

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