Effect of intestinal conditioner pronutrients compared to zinc oxide in weaned piglets
Effect of intestinal conditioner pronutrients on productive parameters and the adaptation to the new diet in weaned piglets, compared to the use of zinc oxide.
Weaning is a critical stage in pig production because it causes stress due to nutritional, social, and environmental changes. At weaning, piglets are very prone to suffer intestinal disorders and may show decreased feed intake and growth stunt.
Antibiotics and zinc oxide commonly used to control intestinal disorders at this stage are being limited in many countries. Therefore, farmers look for effective alternatives, such as intestinal conditioner pronutrients, to control diarrhea at weaning.
INTRODUCTION
This trial evaluated the effect of intestinal conditioner pronutrients on productive parameters in weaned piglets, compared to the use of zinc oxide.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
600 weaned piglets (21 days old) were fed experimental diets that occurred in 4 phases, with phase one (N1) lasting 7 days, phase two (N2) 14 days, phase three (N3) 21 days and phase 4 (F1) 21 days. Pigs were randomly assigned to 2 treatments:
- T1 – ZnO:Pigs fed zinc oxide at 3 kg/t (N1) and 2.5 kg/t (N2).
- T2 – Conditioner: Pigs fed intestinal conditioner pronutrients at 0.5 kg/t (N1, N2 and N3).
All groups were fed a common diet during F1, until pigs were 84 days old.
RESULTS
The table below shows similar weight and average daily gain (ADG) were obtained in both groups, without significant differences between T1 and T2.
The group that received pronutrients (T2) obtained better feed conversion rate (FCR) with a 3.47% improvement, which was significantly different in N3 (days 21 to 42).
Intestinal conditioner pronutrients (T2) had a long-term positive effect, since the FCR remained better during F1, when piglets did not receive any treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
The trial demonstrates that intestinal conditioner pronutrients can replace zinc oxide in weaned piglets. In addition, intestinal conditioners obtained better FCR and this effect remained for a longer time.
The positive effects of these pronutrients in young piglets are related to better gut development and a faster adaptation to solid diets during the post-weaning period.
Pronutrients are a natural botanic solution that are safe for the environment and for human and animal health. Differently from zinc oxide, pronutrients do not have a negative impact on soil contaminations and do not create resistances.
Intestinal conditioner pronutrients are marketed as Alquernat Nebsui by Biovet, S.A.
