The study was conducted at the experimental farm “Ca Bassa” in Parma, Italy and consisted of two feed treatments:
1) Control – basal diet
2) Actisaf Sc 47 treatment 5 x 109 CFU/kg complete feed
These experimental diets were fed from service to the end of the second lactation. There were two replications of the trial on two successive gestations of 24 sows. For each gestation there were 12 sows in each group (6 at second parity and 6 at third parity).
Sows were weighed individually at the beginning and end of each gestation and at weaning. The piglets were weighed individually at three days old and again at weaning.
The diet was offered in pelleted form for both gestation and lactation periods with the only difference being the supplementation of Actisaf Sc 47 in the test group. Piglets received a prestarter diet at two weeks old but without Actisaf Sc 47, whatever the experimental group.
Results
|
Gestation 1 |
Gestation 2 |
||
|
Control group |
Test group |
Control group |
Test group |
Sows |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
Total no. of piglets born per sow |
12 |
11.7 |
11.9 |
11.5 |
No. of piglets born alive per sow |
11.3 |
11.3 |
11.3 |
11.2 |
No. of piglets lost per sow during lactation |
0.7 |
0.2 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
No. of piglets weaned per sow |
10.6 |
11.1 |
10.4 |
11.1 |
Litter weight at 3 days (kg) |
20.1 |
22.8 |
21.1 |
22.6 |
Litter weight at weaning (kg) |
61.8 |
72.2 |
74.1 |
83.2 |
Litter gain (kg) |
41.6 |
49.5 |
53.0 |
60.6 |
Litter daily gain (kg) |
1.9 |
2.3 |
2.1 |
2.3 |
Av. piglet weight at 3 days (kg) |
1.8 |
2.1 |
1.9 |
2.0 |
Av. piglet weaning weight (kg) |
5.8 |
6.6 |
7.1 |
7.6 |
Gain per piglet (kg) |
4.1 |
4.5 |
5.2 |
5.6 |
ADG of piglets g/d |
221.9 |
237.7 |
230.0 |
246.3 |
Conclusions
The addition of Actisaf Sc 47 in the feed of sows through two consecutive parities (gestation + lactation) resulted in an increase of the piglets weight at 3 days old and a decrease in the loss of piglets during lactation. The growth of the piglets was also positively affected by the addition of Actisaf Sc 47 with litter weight at weaning, litter gain, piglet body weight at weaning and body weight gain all being improved. This resulted in a significant ADG and litter daily gain increase of the treated groups.