ARTICLE 76 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2024 The pigs were separated into two trial groups of 1,800 each, within identical conditions and fed the same diets. ROBUS ZEN was incorporated at a rate of 1kg/T, with Product B added at 4kg/T. In every parameter measured, ROBUS ZEN outperformed Product B. The majority of mortality was due to aggression or euthanasia, with Product B at 6.4% and ROBUS ZEN at 2.8%. ROBUS ZEN pigs were nine days faster to slaughter gaining an extra 1.5kg liveweight, with a feed saving of £3.33/pig compared to Product B. In addition, there was a saving of £1.20/pig in the ROBUS ZEN group due to less condemnation, grading and probe when compared to Product B. In another recent trial carried out at an indoor slatted all-in-all-out finisher facility (35kg to 130kg) in Ireland, ROBUS ZEN was trialled against a control. The source of pigs was not known for aggression, so the objective was to assess performance under normal conditions. The trial consisted of 2 groups of pigs (32 pens x 27 pigs in each group), side by side, with the only difference being the addition of 1kg/T ROBUS ZEN to one of the groups. Whilst the control group performed very well with an ADG of 1124g/day, the ROBUS ZEN group gained an additional 21g/day but with an FCR saving of 0.14 compared to the control (2.25 control, 2.14 ROBUS ZEN). USING ROBUS ZEN FOR ETHICAL AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE PIG PRODUCTION Producers are using ROBUS ZEN in different ways, according to when the expected stress insult is. This can vary from including it in the grower and finisher diets, or around time of movement of pigs to different buildings or at mixing. Of course, it is far better to prevent an outbreak of aggression rather than having to react to it once it starts. ROBUS ZEN is widely available across the UK and Ireland and is being used to control aggression in all categories of pigs, including sows, aggressive gilts, nursery and grow-finish pigs. About Dr. Ian Hands Dr. Ian Hands is a veterinarian who has spent his entire career in the global swine industry. His work at Techna focuses on bringing innovative solutions, such as feed additives, to enhance the nutrition, health, performance and welfare of the pig. Driven by a passion to support the industry, Dr. Hands combines scientific research with practical applications to ensure a return on investment for producers and stakeholders
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