ARTICLE 74 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2025 • Optimise management conditions: When nursery piglets are properly managed and raised in optimal conditions, they are often better prepared for the fattening phase. This can help set pigs up for better feed conversion rates during the fattening period, meaning the pigs need less feed to gain weight. • Supply adequate nutrition to support carryover effects: Nutrition supplied during the nursery stage promotes proper growth and development. The type and quality of feed provided in early life stages can have carryover effects on the pigs' later feed intake and efficiency. For example, using certain feed additives early in life could lead to improved feed conversion during the fattening phase. Pigs with a strong nursery phase tend to continue growing efficiently as they move into the fattening phase. This efficiency translates to higher average daily gains (ADG) and overall improved weight gain during fattening. • Monitor health, minimise stress: Monitor nursery pigs’ health closely and take actions to minimise stress during weaning and other critical transition periods. By paying careful attention to the practices above, farmers can improve positive carryover effects and improve the overall efficiency and profitability of fattening pigs. THE CARRYOVER EFFECT AND THE FATTENING PHASE Research shows that a specific blend of organic acids can contribute to a carryover effect from the nursery phase to the fattening phase. Selko Water Acidifier (SWA) is a product portfolio based on blends of free and buffered organic acids. SWA acidifies the water and supports digestion (due to support for stomach acidification: pepsin works better in acidic conditions). SWA also helps maintain a stable intestinal microbiota. All of these actions help sustain pig health and performance. Given that SWA is well known to support the improved performance of nursery and fattening pigs when supplied at distinct phases of pig production, researchers sought to assess its carryover effects. Specifically, researchers sought to determine whether nursery piglets’ improved performance would carry over into the fattening phase (Table 1). Furthermore, researchers wanted to determine if the improved performance of nursery piglets receiving SWA only during the nursery phase would carry over to the fattening phase. A 122-day trial was conducted by Trouw Nutrition in Brazil using 200 weaned piglets with an initial body weight (BW) of 7.7 kg (28 d age). The trial consisted of two groups: control and SWA, and two phases: nursery (treatment – 28 to 62 d age) and fattening (carryover effect, no treatment – 64 to 150 d age). During nursery phase, SWA improved ADG (+5.9 %, +25 g/d), average daily feed intake (ADFI) (+4.0 %, +24 g/d) [p < 0.05], final bodyweight (BW) (+2.9 %, +660 g, p = 0.09), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (-0.6 %, -0.9 points, p > 0.1) compared
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