Simultaneous replacement of ZnO and antibiotics with a Natural NGP to prevent PWD and maintain performance in pigs in field conditions in Spain

Introduction

Antibiotics and pharmacological levels of ZnO are common recommendations for prevention of PWD and improvement of growth performance in farms (1). The EC has scheduled a ban on ZnO as of 2022 and increasing incidence of AMR requires restrictive and prudent use (2).

This study investigated the effectiveness of an in-feed complex alternative formula of esterified butyrins, medium chain fatty acids, plant extracts and essential oils (Lumance®, Innovad®, Belgium) on PWD incidence, ADWG and FCR in growing pigs, weaned without ZnO and antibiotics on real farm conditions in Spain.

Materials and Methods

Set-up: on-farm swine integrator in Lleida, Spain. Eighty (80) pigs (40 males/40 females), weaned at D21 allocated in two groups on a random principal.

Control group: regular pre-starter and starter feed supplemented with ZnO (D21-D42: 2500 ppm and from D43 until the end of the growing period: 1500 ppm) and neomycin (D21 - D 42: 150 ppm) whereas, the trial groupreceived no ZnO and neomycin and was supplemented with 4 kg/T Lumance®.

The average BW of the pigs at weaning was 5.836 kg and 5.897 kg for the control and trial groups, respectively. The trial period was from D21 until transfer to the fattening stage.

Parameters followed:growth performance, ADWG, incidence of diarrhea cases, mortality, feed consumption, FCR and economic evaluation.

All animals suffered from diarrhoea were treated with injectable enrofloxacin and responded to the treatment with the exception of one animal from the control group that died at D23
The increase of cost at 0.403 € / animal in the Lumance® (4 kg/T) group was completely offset by the improvement in the overall performance parameters
Since this trial, Lumance® has been implemented as the regular program to completely replace ZnO and Neomycin for the whole production of pigs in this and other integrators, totalling ~10 million pigs in Spain (supplemented at a lower dose 3 kg/T)

Simultaneous replacement of ZnO and antibiotics with a Natural NGP to prevent PWD and maintain performance in pigs in field conditions in Spain - Image 2

Conclusions and Discussion

Lumance® has proven until now in real large-scale farming conditions in Spain
A highly effective program
For simultaneous replacement of both ZnO and Neomycin (used traditionally to prevent post-weaning diarrhoea)
Whilst improving the performance parameters of the treated animals

IntroductionAntibiotics and pharmacological levels of ZnO are common recommendations for prevention of PWD and improvement of growth performancein farms (1). The EC has scheduled a ban on ZnO as of 2022 and increasingincidence of AMR requires restrictive and prudent use (2).This study investigated the effectiveness of an in-feed complex alternativeformula of esterified butyrins, medium chain fatty acids, plant extracts andessential oils (Lumance®, Innovad®, Belgium) on PWD incidence, ADWGand FCR in growing pigs, weaned without ZnO and antibiotics on real farmconditions in Spain.

Simultaneous replacement of ZnO and antibiotics with a Natural NGP to prevent PWD and maintain performance in pigs in field conditions in Spain

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