PSIII-2 - Evaluation of medium-chain fatty acids on just-weaned piglet performance and diarrhoea scores: A nursery trial

Abstract: Weaning is one of the most stressful events for commercial pigs. The transition from mother's milk (animal proteins) to a solid diet based on plant proteins, the reduction in lactose intake and the drop in HCl secretion by the piglet's digestive system result in a sudden and significant rise in stomach pH as well as an increased risk of post-weaning diarrhoea. The aim of this trial is to evaluate whether the use of a blend of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) on top-off conventional nursery diets would improve zootechnical performance and intestinal problems in just-weaned piglets. 624 piglets [21-d of age, 6.5 kg live-weight (LW), (♂ Fast Duroc x ♀ Fast 275)] were housed in 26 pens of an experimental nursery. Each pen (24 pigs/pen, with a starting density of 3.0 ft²/pig) is equipped with a height-adjustable water sucker, a water bowl and fitted with a single feeder-bin. Females and males were allocated to each pen, according to 3 weight categories (heavy, medium, and light). During a 46-days period of trial, the piglets (13 replicated pens per treatment) were allotted to a conventional 5 phases feeding program with 2 kg/MT of Chlortetracycline (22%) and 400 g/MT of Tiamuline (1.78%) (CON). These basal diets contained 2°500 ppm Zn in Phases #1, 2, and only 2 000 ppm Zn in phase #3. Phases #1 to 3 were also supplemented with Ca-butyrate (1 kg/MT) and a blend of protected acidifiers (1 kg/MT). The treated group consisted to the basal diet (CON) supplemented with a blend of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) at 1.0 or 0.75 kg/MT for Phases #1, 2,3 and Phases #4, 5, respectively and supplying of a proprietary blend of caprylic, capric, and lauric acids. Daily feed consumption, weekly pig pen weights, dead and removed pigs and daily diarrhea evaluation index were completed. Data are analyzed by an ANOVA model including treatment and pen as fixed and random effects, respectively. Pairwise comparisons are completed with a Chi-square test. The overall results are presented in Table 1. At the end of weeks 2 and 3, animals receiving MCFAs had a better ADG (P < 0.05) than CON. Therefore, at weeks 2, 3 and 4, MCFAs animals LW were heavier than CON ones (P < 0.05). Average daily feed intake (ADFI) was not significantly different for the overall duration of the trial (P >0.05). However, at weeks 2 and 3, MCFAs piglets had a higher ADFI than CON ones (P < 0.05). The daily diarrhoea index of the MCFAs group was lower than CON at week 3 (P < 0.05). In this trial, the significant improvement of diarrhea index on just-weaned MCFAs treated piglets could explain the significant better growth during the first three weeks of nursery.