Study on the effect of Actisaf feed additive administered in sows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of Actisaf Sc 47 to improve the performance of sows and piglets when produced in a typical French system. In order to explain the benefit of the additive, samples of sows milk were analysed.

The study was conducted on two farms in Côte d’Armor and consisted of two feed treatments:

1) Control – basal diet


2) Actisaf Sc 47 treatment 5 x 109 CFU/kg

These experimental diets were fed from service to the end of lactation. There were two replications of the trial with Farm 1 having 16 sows each in the control and the treated groups. Farm 2 had 12 sows in the control group and 10 in the treated group.

Litters were weighed at birth and on weaning while all piglets were individually weighed 48 hours after farrowing and again at weaning. On Farm 2 ten colostrum samples were collected for analysing, five from the control group and five from the test group.

The diet was offered in mash form for both gestation
and lactation periods with the only difference being the supplementation of Actisaf Sc 47 in the test group.
 Actisaf Sc 47 was supplemented using a complementary feed mixed with the basal diet (50g of complementary diet + basal diet during gestation and 100g of complementary diet + basal diet during lactation). The control group received the same complementary feed but without the Actisaf Sc 47. During the last week of lactation piglets received a post weaning diet, containing no Actisaf Sc 47 whatever the treatment group.

Results

 

Control group

Test group

Sows

28

26

Total number of piglets born per sow

12.3

14.1

Number of piglets born alive per sow

10.7

12.5

Number of piglets alive after 48 hours per sow

10.6

11.8

Number of piglets weaned per sow

10.1

10.9

Litter initial weight (kg)

15.8

17.5

Litter weight at weaning (kg)

76.8

89.4

Litter weight gain (kg)

61.1

72.0

Litter daily weight gain (kg)

2.4

2.7

Average piglet 48 hours weight (kg)

1.5

1.5

Average piglet weaning weight (kg)

7.5

8.2

Gain per piglet (kg)

6.0

6.7

ADG of piglets g/d

241

257

Milk analysis results

Control group

Test group

Milk dry matter content g/l

252

291

Milk fat content g/l

42

58

Milk crude protein content g/l

162

179

 

Conclusions

The addition of Actisaf Sc 47 in the feed of sows throughout the whole of gestation and lactation resulted in more piglets born alive and alive after 48 hours, significantly increased litter weight at weaning, litter weight gain and litter daily weight gain. The live weights of piglets at weaning, the average weight gain per piglet and the ADG of piglets were also significantly higher in the treated group.

These positive effects may be partially explained by an improvement in colostrum composition: dry matter, fat and crude protein content were significantly increased by 15.5 %, 38.1% and 10.5% respectively.

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