ISSUE FOCUS 52 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE November 2024 Pietro Celi APAC Technical Ruminant Manager ADM Animal Nutrition Alain Abhervé-Gueguen EMEA Swine Director ADM Animal Nutrition Proper nutrition in young production animals provides essential support for future performance outcomes. If the early phases of animal development are not well managed, their genetic potential will not be fully realized. Weaning is therefore a critical stage as well as one of the biggest stressors in a young mammal’s life. Animals experiencing stress, including those at weaning, tend to have suppressed appetites, are often more susceptible to health issues and may also have deficiencies in growth and development. To counter these challenges, producers can implement strategic nutritional solutions designed to positively impact the developmental trajectory of their herd. AVOID THE POST-WEANING PRODUCTION GAP Weaning animals may experience a suppressed appetite that discourages feed intake. High-intensity sweeteners and palatants provide an effective incentive for calves and piglets to switch from liquid diets to solid feed. Although most young animals prefer sweet tastes, palatability varies by species, so it’s important for producers to understand which solutions are most likely to boost ration appeal. In partnership with the University of Liverpool, ADM researchers have identified which sweetening compounds activate the sweet taste receptors in pigs and to what extent. Initially, a cell-based in vitro model was used to apply different sweetening compounds to cells transfected with the swine sweet taste receptor genes. This was followed by feeding trials assessing the activation levels of the intestinal sweet taste receptors and in vivo studies to evaluate the improvement of feed palatability and the consequent impact on feed intake and body weight gain. The results of this research concluded with a knowledge library of compounds that specifically activate “Weaning animals may experience a suppressed appetite that discourages feed intake. High-intensity sweeteners and palatants provide an effective incentive for calves and piglets to switch from liquid diets to solid feed. Although most young animals prefer sweet tastes, palatability varies by species, so it’s important for producers to understand which solutions are most likely to boost ration appeal.” THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER EARLY NUTRITION
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