October 16, 2009

Schothorst Feed Research has developed a feedstuff energy table for weaning pigs up to 25 kg, allowing feed producers to improve the accuracy of diet formulation for weaning pigs.

Highly digestible feedstuffs are less affected by age than slower digestible feedstuffs. Therefore, distinct changes of the energy ranking of feedstuffs was found compared to growing/finishing pigs, which justified the release of a separate energy table for piglets.

The table is based on feeding values measured in weaned piglets up to 25 kg live weight and includes specific feedstuffs that are preferentially used in the initial post-weaning period.

Schothorst researchers said they had standardised the protocol due to the rapid change in digestive capacity.

The researchers chose piglets from 40 to 48 days of age, weaning them at 27 days of age. All piglets were fed at an energy intake level of 3.5 times maintenance. In comparison to the table for growing/finishing pigs, especially feedstuffs containing high amounts of protein and NSP's have a lower energy value.

One of the financial effects of the new energy table is that it favours rapid and good digestible feedstuffs over less digestible compounds.