ISSUE FOCUS 32 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2022 Lower pre-weaning mortality A change in farm-management resulted in an inconsistency in number of days in the nursery house, the researchers of FRA®melco could therefore not compare all sow and piglet data. However, the farmer was satisfied with the general improvements seen in the treatment group as compared to the control group. From the data that could be compared, it was concluded that pre-weaning mortality was reduced from 14.1% in the control group to 10.0% in the treatment group; a reduction of 29 percent. It might be suggested that suckling piglets of sows receiving FRA® C12 in their lactation diet got extra immunity via the colostrum and milk. Less PRRSv infected piglets The researchers also measured the severity of the PRRSv infection by screening saliva on virus excretion. They collected saliva samples from chewing ropes in randomly chosen pens. A week after weaning, 20% of the pens in the control group were tested positive for PRRSv. This increased to even 70% at day 37 after weaning, indicating a serious infection. In the treatment group 10% of the pens were tested positive for PRRSv after 7 days, which was only slightly increased to 20% at day 37 (see Figure 2). Hence, FRA® C12 seemed to be a very interesting and promising tool assisting directly and/ or indirectly in the viral clearance of PRRSv. Less medical treatments in piglets Next to the problems with PRRSv the farm struggled with locomotor problems in weaned piglets most likely due to Streptococcus suis infections, a significant disease in intensive, indoor swine operations. Interestingly, in this trial weaned piglets in the treatment group received a lower number of individual injections against locomotor problems as compared to the control group: 1.9 versus 3.2 treatments/100 piglets respectively. The reduction was near significantly different (P=0.052). Hence, FRA® C12 Dry seemed to have suppressed the susceptibility to secondary infections with Streptococcus suis. CONCLUDING REMARKS Feed additives based on glycerides of lauric acid, like FRA® C12, are gaining popularity in broiler and pig farming, especially when it comes to fight viral challenges. Glycerides of lauric acids can directly attack virus particles or stimulate the immune system of the host, making them more capable of fighting against viral challenges. The results of the current study showed that FRA® C12 has beneficial effects on a farm suffering from a severe PRRSv outbreak. The farmer was satisfied with the obtained improvements. Although the exact mode of action is currently not yet fully understood, FRA® C12 seems to be an interesting and promising tool assisting in the viral clearance of PRRSv and in controlling the risk for secondary infections in PRRSv-positive pigs. References are available upon request via R&D at Framelco. About Olga Dansen Graduated as Animal Scientist from Wageningen University in 2012, with a specialization in animal nutrition. After working in the industry for several years she joined FRAmelco in 2015. In 2016 she became Head of R&D. Figure 2: Percentage of PRRSv positive pens at day 7 and day 37 after weaning; a,b bars with different letters are significantly different (P<0.05).
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