The effects of wheat bran inclusion on piglet performance in the nursery and removal of pharmaceutical zinc
Published:August 22, 2019
Summary
Background and objectives Wheat bran (WB) has been demonstrated to promote intestinal health and improve piglet performance (Molist et al. 2011 & 2012). One proposed mechanism for this effect is that WB inhibits the attachment of bacteria, specifically enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88, to the intestine (Gonzaláz-Ortiz et al. 2014) thereby reducing the risk of ETEC-K88 in...
The proposed mechanism of action when supplementing wheat bran to weaner diets is most likely related to the content of NSPs. I suppose that the coconut testa has a considerable oil residue. Other than that I have no idea about the chemical composition. Do you know the content of NSPs, distribution of soluble and insoluble NSP in coconut testa?
The analysis of the dry coconut rind is : Ash - 8.08%; crude fat - 53.15%; crude fibre - 31.57%; crude protein 8%: dry matter - 97%; starch - 1.59%; sugar - 18%; NDF 9.87; ADF - 11%. The inclusion is 10% for baby pig feed, for average weaning weight 7kg. I feed them for 14 days. Under my observation, only 2% with some mild diarrhoea.
david lim, sorry for my late reply. Interesting observation. Have you made any trials with this ingredient? It would be interesting to compare 1. negative control (without high ZnO) 2. positive control (2500 ppm ZnO) and 3. negative control + 1% coconut testa.
I use 1.5kg zinc oxide and 6% coconut testa for the last 1 year. Under the observation, there is minimal diarrhoea, 2% maximum. I also use antibiotic, tiamulin 1kg in feed.
Strangely with more than one year in using this combination, I am enjoying to see piglets hardly having more than 2% diarrhoea. The piglets grow extremely well with very encouraging results. How do you explain these combinations can trigger diarrhoea? Explaination is always highly appreciated. Thanks.
david lim I suppose you mean that 2% of the piglets are showing signs of diarrhea? If this is the case you have no problems at all. Not all types of diarrhea are caused by pathogens. Piglets can have osmotic diarrhea caused by an excess of various nutrients.
Steffen Hansen, Thanks for the explanation. I make quite a high SID lysine of 1.55 for the weaner pigs together with NE of 2520 Kcal/kg. I really need to get the baby pigs strong enough to face all the challenges ahead. Thanks!