According to recent data1, today 80% of piglets in Phase 1 experience digestive problems such as diarrhea. During Phase 1, after weaning pigs are adapting their digestive system while consuming cereal grain-based diets instead of mother’s milk and preparing to successfully transition to Phase 2 feed. In both Phases 1 and 2, the ingestion of functional and high digestible feed ingredients is critical for their adaptation to a new diet and environment while their immune system is still under development.
The data for passage into Phase 2 data is also alarming1. During this stage, weaning losses in 2022 skyrocketed compared to 2021, due to several new additional stress factors such as the withdrawal of therapeutic zinc oxide and various endemic pathologies. In both Phases, providing adequate nutrition with highly digestible ingredients is key for the weaned pig to develop their digestive and immune system to become more resilient to health challenges and improve lifetime performance.
DIETS INCLUDING APC’S PLASMA INGREDIENTS IN PHASES 1 & 2 GET WEANED PIGS OFF TO A GREAT START & STRONG FINISH
It’s well known that using APC’s plasma-based ingredients in piglet nursery diets help get pigs off to a good start. But what you might not know is to obtain the maximum economic and performance benefits, it is important to use the appropriate inclusion level of spray-dried plasma ingredients in nursery pig diets.
APC recommends a 5% inclusion rate in feeds during Phase 1, continuing with 1,5% during Phase 2, to have an optimal transition. Proper inclusion and feeding duration of spray-dried plasma helps build the pigs resilience against health challenges to support better growth and survival to market age, especially in stressful environments.3
- AP 820 & AP 920 are plasma ingredients rich in high quality proteins, immunoglobulins and other essential nutrients that promote the development of the digestive and immune system in piglets3.
- Pepteiva is a hydrolyzed, highly digestible protein ingredient, rich in functional peptides, that fulfills EU regulatory requirements for multispecies feed manufacturers. It contains bioactive peptides that support better feed intake and growth of pigs to help them transition the stressful postweaning phases.
Multiple studies2 demonstrate that spray-dried plasma should be fed at the recommended rate of 5% in phase 1 nursery diets to obtain an economically optimal effect. Using a lower inclusion level and feeding duration may result in diminished results with only short-term benefits, especially when fed during the abovementioned stress periods or environments. When fed at the appropriate level, AP 820 and AP 920 spray-dried plasma or Pepteiva hydrolyzed proteins will more than pay for themselves in performance.
Summary Effects of Experiments: Coffey and Cromwell, 2001. Pig News and Information 22(2):39N-48N. Van Dijk, 2001. Livestock Production Science 68:263-274. Torrallardona, 2010, Asian-Australian J. Anim. Sci. 23:131-148
Phases 1 and 2 piglets fed with, respectively 5% and 1,5%, APC ingredients show:
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Higher body weight at end of nursery period: Pigs fed APC ingredients during Phase 1 and 2 have higher body weight with less percentage of low quality pigs leaving the nursery.
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Higher survival: The improved feed intake early after weaning with less digestive disorders and enhanced immune system development from feeding AP 820, AP 920 or Pepteiva, lead to better pig resilience against disease which increases pig survival and reduces economic losses for producers.
AP 820, AP 920 & PEPTEIVA PAYBACK IN NURSERY DIETS
By improving the quality and health of pigs, producers can obtain numerous economic benefits by including 5% AP 820, AP 920 or Pepteiva during the initial phases of the nursery:
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Increased productivity: Healthier and more robust nursery pigs are more likely to have higher survival, require fewer days to obtain market weight, and have better feed conversion, which improves revenue or margins for producers.
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Reduced need for antibiotics: Pigs fed APC plasma products have a good start on feed intake after weaning with a stronger immune system, which reduces the need to use therapeutic antibiotics thus reducing medicals costs.
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Improve producer and animal caretaker morale: Having healthy robust pigs are essential for maintaining producer and caretaker morale and passion for having a sustainable swine industry.
Investing in the health and well-being of piglets in these 2 stages is crucial, not only improving production efficiency, but also contributing to the sustainability of the swine industry. APC ingredients are an advanced and safe solution to reach the maximum productive potential.
AP820 I AP920
SRAY DRIED PLASMA
PEPTEIVA
HYDROLYZED PLASMA
References:
1 L. Pico & A. Garcia. Experiencias de campo sin zinc. XII Congress AVPA. Zaragoza,
2 2022Summary Effects of Experiments: Coffey and Cromwell, 2001. Pig News and Information 22(2):39N-48N. Van Dijk, 2001. Livestock. Production Science 68:263-274. Torrallardona, 2010, Asian-Australian J. Anim. Sci. 23:131-148
3 J. Polo. The effect of spray dried plasma in nursery diets on performance and health status of pigs at slaughter weight. 1APC, LLC., Ankeny, IA, USA, 2023