Feed & Additive Magazine Issue 2 March 2021

ARTICLE FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2021 77 the combination of several molecules acting as sweet taste enhancers and few specific molecules naturally occurring in plant such as cinnamon or anis. Ingre- dients of such hybrid solutions have been carefully selected to trigger multiple modes of actions: • The different ingredients act synergistically to create a unique and more intense taste through a multi-sensorial approach, which stimulates the curi- osity of the piglets and raise interest for feed during the weaning period • Sweet-taste enhancers act to enhance feed intake but also to support the development of the gut (Mo- ran, 2010), which later improves the absorption of nutrients and the feed efficacy • Finally, molecules naturally occurring in plant such as cinnamon or anis improve intestinal health and reduce inflammation (Conforti, 2010; Liu, 2012) Such concepts are brought under a granulated form to ensure optimal dispersion in feed. They offer all- in-one and cost-effective solutions to overcome the challenges triggered by-post weaning stress. Several field trials have been conducted to determine the effect of such concepts during the post-weaning period. Figure 1 shows a summary of results measured or observed during these experiments (NC: Negative Control, TC: Tested Concept). As usual, many measurements and observations were made, and few important parameters were con- sistently improved during experiments: • Feed intake was systematically improved, even though the amplitude of the response varies with tests • Interestingly, the homogeneity of group was im- proved, due to a reduction of weak / light piglets • Finally, the feed efficacy was improved, also for ani- mals fed with positive control till 6 weeks post weaning From these observations, it seems that supple- menting such hybrid concepts to weaned piglets give good hope to better overcome damages from stress at weaning. Besides, expending application of these concepts to the sow may also help to further mitigate stress at weaning. FROM SOW TO PIGLETS : LEVERAGING PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO PREVENT STRESS AT WEANING During the last decade, few scientific publications have demonstrated how an early ingestion of feed could be stimulated by facilitating information transfer from sow to piglets, both through flavor learning in utero and social learning. Scientists have evaluated if young ani- mals could learn about flavors from the maternal diet Figure 1 : Summary of measurements and observations made during trials, from 1 to 21 days, as well from 21 to 42 days post-weaning (NC = Negative Control; TC = Tested Concept)