À>˜VˆÃÊ-ˆ“>À`] agr., M.Sc.
Swine Nutrition Manager - Shur-Gain East
YAF Specialist, ASC-NA
69 days
TECHNICAL ARTICLE
that matter!
Targeted start, impactful finish.
Significant improvements
®
to the
program
Over a year ago, a team of Nutreco Canada specialists undertook an ambitious project to improve
growth performance in the first weeks after weaning. After more than 12 controlled trials involving over
10,000 piglets, we are proud to present the significant improvements that stemmed from this work.
Several studies over the last 20 years have shown a strong positive
correlation between weight gain in the first week and age at
slaughter. Moreover, it is much easier to take care of newly weaned
piglets when they start eating soon after weaning. There will
be fewer fall-behind pigs and digestive problems, and ultimately,
less work for you, the producer! As such, the goal is to achieve
maximum weight leaving the nursery, at approximately 69 days
of age.
To achieve this, we studied several elements likely to have positive
impacts on performance. Here are those that will be applied in the end:
1. Appetite stimulator
Some products stimulate the appetite through their action on
the metabolism of weaned piglets. The following graph illustrates
the impact that adding this type of product in the nursery
has on end weight—a more than 3% improvement in weight gain
and consumption!
Graph 2. Effect of an energy source on feed intake,
weight gain and feed efficiency
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
-2
-4
Relative improvement (%)
Why the focus on starting piglets on feed?
Feed intake
Relative improvement (%)
Feed/Gain
Weeks 1-3
Whole 6-week period
3. Watson 2.0 ®
Our 7>ÌܘÊÓ°äÁ Swine Performance investigator was put to work,
allowing us to determine and validate optimal nutrient densities
to use in the last five weeks in the nursery. By optimizing the nutrient
density in the final feeds in the nursery, we significantly improved
growth rate and feed conversion, not to mention the cost of gain!
The table below illustrates the measured improvements.
Graph 1. Effect of an appetite stimulant on piglet weight
gain and consumption
5.5
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
Avg. daily gain
˜`ÊÜiˆ}…Ì
ii`É*ˆ}
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+1 kg
-1.8 kg
-2.5 cents/kg
4. Impact of feed manufacturing conditions
End weight
Daily gain
Feed intake
2. Energy sources
Some energy sources promote growth and feed efficiency
in the weeks following weaning. The graph below illustrates
the impact of a precise energy source measured during four
controlled trials.
Feed manufacturing conditions as well as the selection of ingredients
can have major impacts on the palatability and digestibility of first
feeds. As such, a team of specialists revised the ingredient selection
criteria, as well as the manufacturing conditions, to ensure the latter
meet the highest quality standards.
This research project led to many performance and financial
improvements in our *
/Ê{iÁ nursery program.
Contact your Shur-Gain representative today to take advantage of
these new improvements to *
/Ê{iÁ, which attest to Shur-Gain’s
continuing focus on innovations to benefit the producer!
®
3