November 6, 2012

Norel introduces new probiotic for piglets

Press release

Norel S.A. has introduced a new probiotic for piglets called Proporc.

Early weaning (three weeks of age) is a common practice for the swine industry, especially in intensive production systems. This early weaning, results in several changes for the piglet such as separation from the mother, new housing, grouping with other animals and new feeds, normally solid, making the weaning period a stressing one for the piglet.

Proporc, the biological additive developed by NOREL S.A., is based on spores of Bacillus licheniformis and has demonstrated its benefits by improving performance parameters in this stressful period. Recently, we have run a trial in a commercial farm in Spain to investigate the effects of adding Proporc to a standard post-weaning feeding programme.

A total of 380 piglets were separated in a control and a treatment group. Animals were monitored for performance parameters from day 25 to 74 of age and received two different feeds (pre-starter and starter). The inclusion of Proporc resulted in heavier piglets (22.9 vs. 21.7 kilogrammes); it also increased the average daily gain (337 vs. 313 grams/day). These differences were mainly produced in the last two weeks of the trial, where the animals fed with Proporc grew a 10.8% more.

According to our results, it was concluded that the addition of Proporc to the diet improves intestinal microbiota balance in the piglets and promotes an easier transition to solid feed, producing higher body weights, better growth and improves feed conversion after weaning.