ARTICLE FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2025 75 to animals in the control group. This positive effect carried over to the fattening phase: higher final BW (+2.0 %, +2.01 kg) and reduced FCR (-4.4 %, -11.2 points) compared to the control group (p > 0.1). The carryover effect on weight gain (nursery to fattening) was +1.35 kg (Table 1). CALCULATING ROI When considering the ROI for nutritional approaches in fattening pigs, there are several factors to consider. The financial success of a pig fattening operation depends on balancing the cost of production and the income generated from selling the pigs (global pork price trends, including seasonal variations and market conditions, will directly affect the revenue from selling the fattened pigs). The more efficient the FCR, the better the ROI. If pigs are able to gain weight with less feed, this directly impacts profitability. Based on local feed, product, and livestock prices, the application of SWA resulted in a benefit of €0.69 (ROI of 8.96) per piglet during the nursery phase, and a benefit of €12.29 per pig during the fattening phase (ROI of 12.29, same benefit as no investment in the treatment group during this phase) compared to the control group (Table 2). CONCLUSION Supporting pigs through the nursery and fattening stages is essential for the overall success of a pig farming operation. By investing in optimal nutrition, health management, and environmental conditions during the nursery phase, producers can enhance the performance of pigs during their transition to the fattening phase. The resulting carryover effects can lead to better growth rates, feed efficiency, and overall profitability in pig production systems. Nursery phase Final BW, kg ADG, g/d ADFI, g/d FCR, kg/kg Fattening phase Final BW, kg ADG, g/d ADFI, g/d FCR, kg/kg Body weight gain, kg 22.45y 424b 607b 1.458 101.74 910 2323 2.567 79.29 23.11x 449a 631a 1.449 103.75 930 2281 2.455 80.64 Control SWA Table 1. Effect of SWA on nursery phase with carryover effect on fattening phase SWA: Selko Water Acidifier Different superscripts (a,b) in the same row are different (p < 0.05) or (x,y) tend to differ (p = 0.09) Nursery phase Total feed cost1, € Revenue per piglet2, € Total gains per piglet3, € Benefit per piglet4, € ROI5 Fattening phase Total feed cost1, € FCR, kg/kg Revenue per pig2, € Benefit per pig4, € ROI5 56.59 13.40 201.8 2.567 162.8 58.54 13.79 0.77 0.69 8.96 198.1 2.455 166.0 12.29 12.29 Control SWA Table 2. Financial results 1Based on daily feed intake, feed price (2.74 €/kg nursery feed, 1.01 €/ kg fattening feed) 2Based on final body weight and price of pig (13.40 € weaned control pig, 1.6 €/kg live fattening pig) 31 point FCR = FCR value x FCR points difference (0.42 € for nursery pig, 0.81 € for fattening pig) + revenue difference 4Total gains minus SWA investments (based on water:feed ratio of 3.0, plus +20% water intake [average of different SWA studies] 5Return on investment: total gains / SWA investment (Same as benefit for fattening phase as there was no investment during fattening)
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