Pig Focus Asia in Bangkok again a success

At the plenary opening ceremony Mr Sakchai Sriboonsue,
The Thai Livestock Department’s Director General and Mr Paul Reid from the
British Embassy welcomed delegates to the conferences and Mr Vanus
Taepaisitphongse, the CEO of the internationally known Betagro Group, reflected
on the challenges facing progressive livestock producers and the importance of
the effective utilisation of knowledge in today’s successful livestock
operations.

Mycotoxins
The Pig Focus conference was marked by
presentations on feed additives, mycotoxins, health and more efficient feeding.
Gerard Morantes from Cargill Animal Nutrition in the US gave a presentation
about predicting and managing the mycotoxin risk. He explained that the world
grain production is increasing (estimated to reach 2076 million tonnes in the
2007/08 harvest). This means that we have to be extra focused on preventing that
these large amounts of grains get contaminated with mycotoxins.

Morantes
said that around 5 years ago, testing for mycotoxins was still not a standard
procedure. However, mycotoxins analyses is starting to get a standard procedure
nowadays, Morantes said.

Nutricines
Christopher Nelson from
Kemin Industries in the US spoke about nutricines and the future of nutrition.
Nutricines are the functional components that have a beneficial effect on the
animal but do not have an energetic value. Examples are vitamins, minerals, pro
and prebiotics. Nutricines act at several different sites and levels in the body
and may help the digestion and absorption of nutrients. They protect against
pathogenic micro-organisms through supporting the immune system and against
non-infectious diseases by control of oxidative stress.

Nelson explained
that nutritionists have to focus more on the “total nutrition” concept. This
means that we not only have to feed the animal for maximum growth, but that we
also have to feed the animal for optimum health and welfare.

Phytase
Gary Partridge from Danisco Animal Nutrition in the UK
updated the audience on profitable use of new enzymes. He explained that the
enzyme phytase is a crucial ingredient in animal feed as it converts the phytate
(an anti-nutritional factor) into phosphorus. Phosphorus (P) is an essential
nutrient for all animals. Deficiency of P is the most widespread of all the
mineral eficiencies affecting livestock. The first generation phytase enzymes
were produced using genes from Aspergillus niger and Peniophora
lycii.

However, at Danisco they have made a new generation phytase by
using the genes from the E. coli bacteria. The advantage of this new
production method is that the phytase is less sensitive to the stomach acid
pepsin, meaning that the enzyme is more efficient in the animal.

Small piglets
Robert van Barneveld from Barneveld Nutrition in
Australia addressed the importance of enhancing the nutrition of pre and post
weaning pigs. He explained that light pigs can respond very well after
nutritional strategies and don’t necessarily have to be taken out the group.

According to Van Barneveld, the use of colostrum protein isolates are a
great way to give the small piglets a good start. These products are high in the
antibody IgF and trials showed significant differences in gut health among the
piglets. He also mentioned that the use of semi-moist extruded creep feed also
showed positive results in pigs. This type of feed consists of soft and chewy
pellets, which are easily taken up by the piglets.

The conferences
were organised by Positive Action Publications Ltd from Great Britain together
with NCC Exhibition Organizer Co Ltd of Thailand.