MSC.
Buenos Aires, Argentina Email: arwust@yahoo.com.ar
Dr. Alejandro Wüst
MED. VET
and after feeding MINAZEL PLUS®
FOUR PIG FARMS Before
Advances in management practices, production systems, the control and eradication of major diseases, continued genetic development, and the use of a wide variety of biotechnologies have highlighted pig production at a global scale to levels that seemed unattainable
However, several obstacles remain (e.g., attaining maximum production efficiency, seasonal diseases, and reducing the effects of mycotoxins on pigs).
Studies conducted by FAO estimate that 300 or more existing mycotoxins contaminate 25% of the world’s grain reserves.
Conservationist planting practices, such as direct seeding, have generated a notable increase in the contamination of plants during their development and this has greatly aggravated in the humid climate of Argentina, where it is common to find very high levels of different mycotoxins produced mainly by fungi from the genus Fusarium and Aspergillus
In this paper, the experience of testing Minazel Plus® at site 1 of four intensive pig breeding farms, two of them in the Province of Buenos Aires (San Andrés de Giles and Salto), one in Entre Ríos (Gilbert), and another in Córdoba (Monte Maíz).
The results of this trial include the reproductive data obtained for the last 4 years where the results of the farms before and after the use of the Minazel Plus® are compared.
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USE AND RESULTS OF MINAZEL PLUS® AT CAFFARO FARM
SERVICE/GESTATION STAGE
Table 1 and Figure 1 show data on the service/gestation stage for the period from May 2018 to April 2020, when a broad-spectrum binder was used, and for the period from May 2020 to April 2022, when Minazel Plus® was used:
The birthrate at CAFFARO Farm increased from 81.96% to 85.58%, which represents an increase of 3.6% during the use of Minazel Plus® in the diet.
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The first trial was carried out at CAFFARO Farm, a breeding pig farm with 280 sows located at Salto.
GROUP SERVICES (n) BIRTHS (n) BIRTHRATES (%) Binder X 1,591 1,304 81.96 Minazel Plus® 1,540 1,318 85.58 Difference -51 14 3.6
Table 1. Comparison of the data on service, births and birthrates registered at CAFFARO Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
81.96 Without Minazel Plus® With Minazel Plus® 85.58 BIRTHRATES (%)
Figure 1. Comparison of the birthrates registered at CAFFARO Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
86 85 84 83 82 81 80
FARROWING/LACTATION STAGE
Table 2 and Figure 2 show the results of the farrowing/ lactation stage from May 2018 to April 2020, when a broad-spectrum binder was used, and from May 2020 to April 2022, when Minazel Plus® was used:
LNT: Total born piglets, XLNT: Average total born piglets, LNV: Liveborn piglets, XLNV: Average liveborn piglets, LNM: Stillborn piglets, XLNM: Average stillborn piglets, LMOM: Mummified piglets, XLMOM: Average mummified piglets.
XLNT: Average total born piglets, XLNV: Average liveborn piglets, XLNM: Average stillborn piglets, XLMOM: Average mummified piglets.
Figure 3 shows that piglets born alive per sow per year increased from 26.01 piglets to 27.46 piglets with the use of Minazel Plus®, which represents 1 more piglet per sow per year.
Without Minazel Plus® With Minazel Plus®
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GROUP LNT XLNT LNV XLNV LNM XLNM L MOM. XL MOM. Binder X 16,750 12.84 14,567 11.17 1,884 1.44 283 0.21 Minazel Plus® 17,140 13.01 15,380 11.67 1,440 1.09 323 0.24 Difference 390 0,17 813 0,5 -444 0 40 0
Table 2. Comparison of the data on the number of total, liveborn, stillborn and mummified piglets registered at CAFFARO Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 XLNT XLNM XLNV XLMOM 12.84 11.17 1.44 0.21 13.01 11.67 1.09 0.24
Figure 2. Comparison of the data on average number of total, liveborn, stillborn and mummified piglets registered at CAFFARO Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
Figure 3. Comparison of the data on piglets born alive per sow per year registered at CAFFARO Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
Without Minazel Plus® With Minazel Plus®
27.5 27 26.5 26 25.5 25 26.01 27.46
PIGLETS BORN ALIVE/SOW/YEAR (%)
USE AND RESULTS OF MINAZEL PLUS® AT PARISI FARM
SERVICE/GESTATION STAGE
The birthrate at PARISI Farm increased from 80.71% to 84.23%, which represents an increase of 3.52% during the use of Minazel Plus® in the diet.
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The second trial was carried out at PARISI Farm, a breeding pig farm with 160 sows located at San Andrés de Giles.
Table 3 and Figure 4 show data on the service and gestation stage for the period from May 2018 to April 2020, when a broad-spectrum binder was used, and for the period from May 2020 to April 2022, when Minazel Plus® was used:
GROUP SERVICES (n) BIRTHS (n) BIRTHRATES (%) Binder X 840 678 80,71 Minazel Plus® 869 732 84,23 Difference 29 54 3.52 85 84 83 82 81 80 79 78 80.71 BIRTHRATES (%) 84.23
Table 3. Comparison of the data on the service, births and birthrates registered at PARISI Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
Figure 4. Comparison of the birthrates registered at PARISI Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
Without Minazel Plus® With Minazel Plus®
FARROWING/LACTATION STAGE
Table 4 and Figure 5 show the results of the farrowing/ lactation stage from May 2018 to April 2020, when a broad-spectrum binder was used, and from May 2020 to April 2022, when Minazel Plus® was used:
LNT: Total born piglets, XLNT: Average total born piglets, LNV: Liveborn piglets, XLNV: Average liveborn piglets, LNM: Stillborn piglets, XLNM: Average stillborn piglets, LMOM: Mummified piglets, XLMOM: Average mummified piglets.
Without Minazel Plus® With Minazel Plus®
XLNT: Average total born piglets, XLNV: Average liveborn piglets, XLNM: Average stillborn piglets, XLMOM: Average mummified piglets.
Figure 6 shows that piglets born alive per sow per year increased from 22.79 piglets to 26.61 piglets with the use of Minazel Plus®, which represents 3.82 more piglets per sow per year.
Without Minazel Plus® With Minazel Plus®
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GROUP LNT XLNT LNV XLNV LNM XLNM L MOM. XL MOM. Binder X 8,563 12.63 7,329 10.8 678 1.38 295 0,43 Minazel Plus® 9,797 13.45 8,461 11.62 968 1.35 346 0,47 Difference 1,234 0.82 1,132 0.82 290 -0.03 51.0 0.0
Table 4. Comparison of the data on the number of total, liveborn, stillborn and mummified piglets registered at PARISI Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 XLNT XLNM XLNV XLMOM 12.63 10.8 1.38 0.43 13.45 11.62 1.35 0.47
Figure 5. Comparison of the data on average number of total, liveborn, stillborn and mummified piglets registered at PARISI Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
Figure 6. Comparison of the data on piglets born alive per sow per year registered at PARISI Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 22.79 PIGLETS BORN ALIVE/SOW/YEAR (%) 26.61
USE AND RESULTS OF MINAZEL PLUS® AT THORN FARM
SERVICE/GESTATION STAGE
The third trial was carried out at THORN Farm, a breeding pig farm with 160 sows located at Gilbert (Entre Rios).
Table 5 and Figure 7 show data on the service/gestation stage for the period from November 2018 to November 2020, when a broad-spectrum binder was used, and for the period from December 2020 to December 2022, when Minazel Plus® was used:
GROUP SERVICES (n) BIRTHS (n) BIRTHRATEs (%) Binder X 481 430 89.23 Minazel Plus® 472 428 90.67 Difference -9 -2 1.44 91 90.5 90 89.5 89 88.5 89.23 BIRTHRATES (%) 90.67
Table 5. Comparison of the data on the service, births and birthrates registered at THORN Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
Figure 7. Comparison of the birthrates registered at THORN Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
Without Minazel Plus® With Minazel Plus®
FARROWING/LACTATION STAGE
Table 6 and Figure 8 show the results of the farrowing/ lactation stage from November 2018 to November 2020, when a broad-spectrum binder was used, and from November 2020 to November 2022, when Minazel Plus® was used:
LNT: Total born piglets, XLNT: Average total born piglets, LNV: Liveborn piglets, XLNV: Average liveborn piglets, LNM: Stillborn piglets, XLNM: Average stillborn piglets, LMOM: Mummified piglets, XLMOM: Average mummified piglets.
XLNT: Average total born piglets, XLNV: Average liveborn piglets, XLNM: Average stillborn piglets, XLMOM: Average mummified piglets.
30.02 piglets to 33.56 piglets with the use of Minazel Plus®, which represents 3.50 more piglets per sow per year.
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GROUP LNT XLNT LNV XLNV LNM XLNM L MOM. XL MOM. Binder X 6,140 14.27 5,515 12.82 459 1.06 163 0.37 Minazel Plus® 6,448 15.24 5,817 13.75 451 1.06 177 0.41 Difference 308 0.97 302 0.93 -8 0 14 0.04
Table 6. Comparison of the data on the number of total, liveborn, stillborn and mummified piglets registered at THORN Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 XLNT XLNM XLNV XLMOM 14.27 12.82 1.06 0.37 15.24 13.75 1.06 0.41
Figure 8. Comparison of the data on average number of total, liveborn, stillborn and mummified piglets registered at THORN Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
Figure 9. Comparison of the data on piglets born alive per sow per year registered at THORN Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
34 33 32 31 30 29 28 30.02
Figure 9 shows that piglets born alive per sow per year increased from
33.56
PIGLETS BORN ALIVE/SOW/YEAR (%)
Without Minazel Plus® With Minazel Plus®
Without Minazel Plus® With Minazel Plus®
USE AND RESULTS OF MINAZEL PLUS® AT BERNAY FARM
SERVICE/GESTATION STAGE
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The last trial was carried out at BERNAY Farm, a breeding pig farm with 330/350 sows located at Monte Maíz (Córdoba).
Table 7 and Figure 10 show data on the service/gestation stage for the period from May 2018 to April 2020, when a broad-spectrum binder was used, and for the period from May 2020 to April 2022, when Minazel Plus® was used:
GROUP SERVICES (n) BIRTHS(n) BIRTHRATES (%) Binder X 1,848 1,548 83.76 Minazel Plus® 1,961 1,674 85.36 Difference 113 126 1,6 83.76 BIRTHRATES (%) 85.36
Table 7. Comparison of the data on the service, births and birthrates registered at BERNAY Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
85.5 85 84.5 84 83.5 83 82.,5
Figure 10 . Comparison of the birthrates registered at BERNAY Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
Without Minazel Plus® With Minazel Plus®
FARROWING/LACTATION STAGE
Table 8 and Figure 11 show the results of the farrowing/ lactation stage from May 2018 to April 2020, when a broad-spectrum binder was used, and from May 2020 to April 2022, when Minazel Plus® was used:
LNT: Total born piglets, XLNT: Average total born piglets, LNV: Liveborn piglets, XLNV: Average liveborn piglets, LNM: Stillborn piglets, XLNM: Average stillborn piglets, LMOM: Mummified piglets, XLMOM: Average mummified piglets.
XLNT: Average total born piglets, XLNV: Average liveborn piglets, XLNM: Average stillborn piglets, XLMOM: Average mummified piglets.
Figure 12 shows that piglets born alive per sow per year increased from 25.06 piglets to 26.24 piglets with the use of Minazel Plus®, which represents 1.18 more piglets per sow per year.
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GROUP LNT XLNT LNV XLNV LNM XLNM L MOM. XL MOM. Binder X 17,556 11.34 16,589 10.71 720 0.46 241 0.15 Minazel Plus® 19,564 11.68 18,387 10.98 950 0.56 230 0.13 Difference 2,008 0.34 1,798 0.27 230 0.1 -11 -0.02
Table 8. Comparison of the data on the number of total, liveborn, stillborn and mummified piglets registered at BERNAY Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
12 10 8 6 4 2 0 XLNT XLNM XLNV XLMOM 11.34 10.71 0.46 0.15 11.68 10.98 0.56 0.13
Figure 11. Comparison of the data on average number of total, liveborn, stillborn and mummified piglets registered at BERNAY Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
Figure 12. Comparison of the data on piglets born alive per sow per year registered at BERNAY Farm before and after using Minazel Plus®.
26.5 26 25.5 25 24.5 24 25.06 PIGLETS BORN ALIVE/SOW/YEAR (%) 26.24 Without
Plus®
Minazel
With Minazel Plus®
Without Minazel Plus® With Minazel Plus®
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF MINAZEL PLUS®
At the end of the trial, an economic analysis of each farm concerning the use of Minazel Plus® on each farm was carried out as shown below.
To calculate the increase in the number of liveborn piglets associated with the use of Minazel Plus®, the difference in the average number of extra liveborn piglets (Difference XLNV) was multiplied by the number of births (BIRTHS) that occurred during the treatment period with Minazel Plus®, which represents the number of extra piglets (L. EX.) obtained during the evaluated period in each farm (2 years) (Table 9)
Difference XLNV = Difference in the Average liveborn piglets, L. EX. = number of extra piglets = Difference XLNV x BIRTHS,
*Evaluated period 13 months.
FARM Difference XLNV BIRTHS L. EX. L. EX./A CAFFARO 0.5 1,318 659 330 PARISI 0.82 732 600 300 THORN* 0.93 428 398 367 BERNAY 0.27 1,674 452 226
Table 9. Number of extra piglets obtained during the treatment period with Minazel Plus® (2 years) and per year.
L. EX/A = number of extra piglets per year.
Next, the profits were calculated based on a total mortality (born/sold) of 14%, a slaughter weight of 115 kg, a born/ sold feed conversion of 2.2 kg of feed/kg produced, and an average feed cost of US$60/kg (Table 10).
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Table 10. Summary of the amount of animals and kilograms sold and the amount of feed and Minazel Plus® consumed during the 2-year treatment period.
FARM L.
Animals
Kg sold Kg feed Kg Minazel
CAFFARO 330 284 32,660 71,852 280 PARISI 300 258 29,670 65,274 160 THORN 367 316 36,340 79,948 160 BERNAY 226 194 22,310 49,082 350
Table 11. Summary of the profit margin during the 2-year treatment period with Minazel Plus®.
EX./A
sold
Plus®
CAFFARO 52,509.44 23,900.85 1,381.56 27,227.03 PARISI 47,702,24 21,712.74 789.47 25,200.03 THORN 58,426.00 26,593.9 789.47 31,042.63 BERNAY 35,869.13 16,326.64 1,726.96 17,815.53
FARM Sales (US$) Feed costs (US$) Minazel Plus® costs (US$) Gross profit (US$)
L. EX/A = number of extra piglets per year.
Table 11 shows the profits for each farm during the treatment period with Minazel Plus®
CONCLUSION
These four farms are located in 3 different Argentinian provinces, all of them in soybean/corn agricultural areas where the climate is quite similar and with similar sanitary realities. As for genetics, they are the same and all have a gilt replacement program based on liquid genetics from the same genetics company.
The supply of raw materials for feed relies on procurement in the first three farms, whereas the fourth (Cordoba) produces its own corn. As for the supply of starter and nucleus feeds, all of them come from different companies. In addition, the four farms differ significantly in terms of structure and personnel.
Despite the similarities and differences between these farms, in all cases, the use of Minazel Plus® resulted in productive differences with high profitability.
Considering that each sow consumes 1 kg of Minazel Plus®/year, an amount that can be increased as needed, the result is likely to be linear.
So, the higher the level of mycotoxin contamination, the better the results will be.
In this case, it was decided to use the product in all phases at a single dose of 1kg/Tn, regardless of the raw material mycotoxin analysis that is carried out regularly.
