New intestinal health additive for nursery pigs

The product*, developed by Amlan International, showed to deliver the equivalent of 5% more pig at finish due to combined improvements in feed conversion and weight gain. The product reduced the level of pathogenic bacteria and biotoxins from the intestines, energizing and strengthening the cells that form the intestinal barrier and stimulating passive and active immunities for the defense against pathogens.

Study in newly weaned pigs

A 35-day study was performed at Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN, USA) to evaluate the performance of the product supplementation at 0.1% and 0.3% respectively. Each treatment group of newly weaned pigs included four pens of gilts and four pens of barrows, each with six pigs per pen. Average weaning age was 21 days and average initial body weight was 5.8 kg. Weight gain and feed conversion were compared among the treatment groups. The benefit to nursery piglets of feeding the product was clearly demonstrated in increased gain and improved feed conversion.

Benefits for growing pigs

Also benefits for growing pigs were seen. 118 pigs were included in this 39-day trial. Pigs averaged 42 days of age at trial initiation with an average weight of 13.38 kg. Two groups (60 pigs total) consumed feed supplemented with the product, and two groups (58 pigs total) consumed feed with no supplementation. All pigs were then re-weighed at trial completion. Routine 0.15% product supplementation resulted in nearly 10% improvement in feed conversion with a corresponding 7.8% decreased cost per kilogramme of gain.

Importance of first line of defense

“We know that intestinal health is essential for efficient conversion of feed to gain. The first phases of feeding are the most stressful for pigs, which can slow the development of a healthy intestinal environment and immune function,” said Dr. Ron Cravens, president, Amlan International. In addition to aiding in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, the intestinal environment forms a pig’s first line of defense against the harmful bacterial and fungal biotoxins, bacteria, or feed-associated antigens that can cause diarrhea, mal-absorption, and reduced growth and production. Stressors surrounding the weaning period, such as separation from the sow, transition to dry food, and increased exposure to pathogens, are known to contribute to intestinal and immune dysfunctions that represent a major source of production losses in swine operations.

*NeoPrime.

NeoPrime is currently approved for use in Japan, Thailand and the Philippines, and is waiting registration approval in multiple other countries in South America and the Asia-Pacific region.