q
Study involved 700 piglets weaned at 20 days of age (6.1 kg).
q
They were allocated to five treatments at weaning each with 10 replicate pens housing 14 weaners per pen.
q
The experiment was conducted under commercial conditions-in excellent R&D facilities
qOverall – to continue to explore alternatives to high levels of ZnO and alternative
means of improving the health and performance of weaner pigs. Eventually to reduce reliance on antibiotics –though not tested here.
qCan the protective and performance enhancing effects of ZnO be achieved at
lower levels of inclusion in commercial situations?
qHow do materials such as ZnO and essential oils and organic acids affect
performance over time after weaning?
q
The treatments
Ø
Control diet without ZnO.
Ø
Control diet with 3000 ppm ZnO
Ø
Control diet with 1.0kg/t microencapsulated ZnO [Jefo P(ZnO)]
Ø
Control diet with 1.0 kg/t microencapsulated OAs and EOs [Jefo P(OA+EO)]
Ø
Control diet with both microencapsulated ZnO and OA+EO
q
Duration 28 days
q
Antibiotics provided through the water – same for all treatments
ยง Pigs weaned at 21 days (5.78 kg) ยง Ten replicate pens per treatment ยง 14 pigs/pen (700 pigs -total)
Ingredient
Percentage
Wheat
57
Soya Bean Meal (46%)
10
Soycomil
2.2
Blood Meal (90%)
1.4
Meat Meal (51%)
6.7
Fish Meal
2.5
Chocolate Milk Powder
15
NuPro 2000
2.5
Stockfeed blended oil
0.5
Betaine (Betafin)
0.1
DL Methionine
0.16
Lysine HCL
0.30
L-Threonine
0.19
L-Tryptophan
0.05
Nutrient
Level
DE (MJ/kg)
14.8
CP (%)
23.8
Total lysine (%)
1.56
Available Lysine (%)
1.35
Lactose (%)
5.62
M+C:Lysine
0.58
Typ:Lysine
0.20
P(ZnO) + P(OA+EO)
P(OA+EO)
P(ZnO)
ZnO 3000
Control
a
Control
ZnO 3000
P(ZnO)
P(OA+EO)
P(ZnO) + P(OA+EO)
Treatment/week W1
W2
W3
W4
Overall
Control
0.070 c
0.206 c
0.323 c
0.49 a
0.266 c
ZnO 3000
0.093 ab 0.274 a
0.383 a
0.48 a
0.302 a
P(ZnO)
0.100 a
0.343 bc
0.48 a
0.277 bc
P(OA+EO)
0.081 bc 0.226 bc
0.348 b
0.49 a
0.279 bc
P(ZnO) + P(OA+EO)
0.103 a
0.348 b
0.51 a
0.291 ab
0.219 bc
0.237 b
Treatment
Control
ZnO
P(ZnO)
Mortalities
1
0
0
Removals
3
3
1
Total
4
3
1
P=
0.41
Control
ZnO 3000
P(ZnO)
P(OA+EO)
P(ZnO) + P(OA+EO)
P(ZnO) + P(OA+EO) P(OA+EO) P(ZnO) ZnO 3000 Control
P(ZnO)
P(OA+EO)
P(ZnO) + P(OA+EO)
qThe findings support a two phase diet program in first four weeks
after weaning.
qMicroencapsulated ZnO was as effective as 3,000ppm ZnO in first
two weeks – reduced Zn excretion by 66%.
qP(OA+EO) significantly improved feed efficiency (7-8%) in second
two weeks and would seem to have potential for heavier pigs and certainly to the end of the nursery –should be investigated.