ARTICLE 64 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2024 The fattening period of swine production accounts for 70% of the total feed consumption of the farm. The success of the fattening period therefore determines both the economic success of the farm as well as its impact on the environment. Recent advancements in genetic selection have led to improved pig performance with lower feed conversion ratios and higher daily gains. However, this shift towards leaner and more muscular pigs poses challenges such as potential issues in bone structure development. PERFORMANCE PROGRESS In recent years, there has been spectacular evolution in fattening pig performance levels with feed conversion ratio getting as low 2.2-2.3 and daily gain rising to close to 1000 g/day. These developments have been made possible thanks to effective genetic selection programs targeting increasingly lean and muscular pigs, which in turn considerably modifies the nature of body tissue deposition shifting more towards an increase in muscle accretion and nitrogen retention. NEW CHALLENGES This shift towards higher protein deposition potential and average daily gain can trigger challenges in bone structure development. This new phenomenon arises due to muscle and bone deposition essentially competing for the allocation of the same nutrients. An example of the nutrients affected by this phenomenon is the competition for certain sulphur amino acids, phosphorus, and certain micronutrients such as vitamin D and certain trace elements. In parallel with these changes, management practices have also shifted towards more sustainable production, and the curative use of certain antibiotics has given way to preventative health strategies involving more routine & extensive use of vaccines. Immune function is in turn challenged more frequently and the immune competence of pigs can be compromised. Furthermore, pigs are exposed to numerous environmental situations such as heat and cold stress which modify and modulate their nutritional and physiological requirements and alter the expression of their growth potential. Pastorelli et al. (2012) quantified the metabolic disturbances linked to different challenges which can induce a reduction in voluntary feed intake, but also alter metabolic efficiency. These impacts are difficult to quantify and model as there can be a cumulative effect and/or any physiological function rarely responds linearly to an environmental disturbance (Figure 1). UNLOCKING THE TRUE POTENTIAL OF FATTENING PIGS WITH ADAPTIVE NUTRITION Laurent Roger Global Marketing Manager Swine Health Animal Nutrition and Health, dsm-firmenich
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