FORMI improves piglet growth

As a consequence of todays common practice in pig breeding the gastro–intestinal system of piglets is not yet fully developed at the time of weaning. This may cause digestive problems and increase susceptibility to pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and salmonellae. Formerly antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) were added to the feed in order to reduce the risk of infections and improve growth. Since the EU ban, AGP are being substituted by e.g. organic acids and their salts. Among the salts of organic acids potassium diformate (KDF, trade name FORMI) is one of the best studied substances.

As a part of the EU registration procedure numerous studies have been conducted proving the positive effects of FORMI on specific nutritional and growth parameters (feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion rate) of animals.

The effects of FORMI are based on several different mechanisms:
  pH reduction in the stomach and in the gut,
  an antimicrobial effect and
  increased protein retention.

A study conducted by Eidelsburger et al. in 2007 dealt with the following questions:
  What are the (quantitative) effects of FORMI on specific nutritional and growth parameters of weaning piglets?
  Are nutrition and growth affected by the protein content of the feed? Is there an interaction between FORMI and protein content?

In order to answer these questions 420 weaned piglets (25% Landrace, 25% Duroc, 50% PIC synthetic syre line, 28 days of age) were divided into two treatment groups fed on two different protein levels (starting with 23/20%, then 20/19%, and finally 18,5/18,5% protein). Half of each group (105 animals) received feed with 1.2% FORMI added. Feed and water were available ad libitum. The seven-week trial period was divided into a starter (weeks 1 and 2) and a weaner phase (weeks 3 to 7). Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion rate were determined every two weeks and calculated for starter, weaner and overall period separately.

As presented in table 1, piglets fed with addition of FORMI showed a significantly higher weight gain (by 13.2 and 16.1% at low and high protein level, respectively) and a significantly reduced feed conversion rate (by 5.2 and 13.3% at low and high protein level, respectively) in the overall period. Feed intake was increased by 7.0 and 1.0 %.

Protein content of the feed did not exert a significant influence on nutritional and weight parameters and consequently did not interact with addition of FORMI. Nevertheless, piglets fed on high protein feed showed a tendency towards lower weight gain and a higher feed conversion rate (control group without FORMI). Addition of FORMI led to a stronger increase in weight gain and a stronger reduction in feed conversion rate at high protein level. The enhancing effect of FORMI on weight gain and feed conversion rate therefore tended to be more pronounced in animals receiving high protein diet.

Table 1: Effect of Formi® and protein content of feed on nutritional and growth parameters of piglets (overall period, weeks 1-7).

Fig. 1: FCR in pigs fed different protein levels with or without FORMI