ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE November 2025 49 Trials first looked at how MCFAs and slow-release C12 (SRC12) affected average daily gains (ADG) for piglets. Groups of piglets were either fed a standard diet or given an MCFA + SRC12 supplement with their standard feed. The results showed an improvement in ADG when piglets were fed MCFAs + SRC12, especially in the last three weeks of the trial (Figure 1). IMPROVING POST-WEANING FAECAL CONSISTENCY A 42-day trial involving 320 weaned piglets was conducted in Spain. Again, two groups were used to demonstrate the effects of Presan-FX on piglets’ performance. Piglet body weight was recorded on days 0, 7, and 14, and faecal samples were collected. Piglets receiving Presan-FX in their diets had firmer stools by day 7 of the trial (Table 1), an indicator of better digestion. Research findings also show that Presan-FX improved the shape and height of villi, tiny finger-like structures in the small intestine. Villi play a crucial role in determining how well piglets absorb nutrients from their food. When villi are shorter or damaged, piglets can have trouble absorbing nutrients, which may lead to diarrhoea and poor growth. Although improvements in final body weight and feed efficiency were not statistically significant, the trial demonstrated that Presan-FX provided a financial advantage in raising nursery piglets. Beyond its effects in improving stool consistency and gut structure, researchers also sought to understand how Presan-FX might affect metabolic activity within the gut. One area of focus was VFAs, key compounds produced by microbial fermentation that play a vital role in energy supply and nutrient absorption in piglets. INCREASING VOLATILE FATTY ACID PRODUCTION VFAs are important compounds produced when gut bacteria break down fibre in the pig700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Control Period, days 0 to 7 111 122 262 259 560 602 411 437 7 to 14 14 to 35 0 to 35 MCFA + SRC12 Average Daily Gain, g a a b b Figure 1. Average daily gain (ADG) of piglets fed one of the two dietary treatments measured at different days post-weaning. Columns with different superscripts (a,b) are significantly different (p < 0.05). Control Presan-FX Table 1. Faecal dry matter (%) of weaned piglets that received Presan®-FX Values within a row with different superscripts (a,b) are significantly different (p = 0.03), (x,y) tends to differ (p = 0.09) Day 7 Day 14 Day 21 24.9b 23.1 22.7y 26.5a 24.1 24.0x Photo: Budimir Jevtic | Shutterstock
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