September 23, 2019

Vilofoss wins award at SPACE 2019 for AppiMilk complementary feed for sows

Vilofoss recently won an award at the INNOV'SPACE awards night, a side event that was held during this year's SPACE livestock trade show in Rennes, France. 

The company was recognised for its AppiMilk, a complementary feed for lactating sow.

"The relatively constant increase in sow fertility from 0.1 to 0.3 weaned piglets per litter per year observed over the past twenty years in Europe is not necessarily accompanied by an increase in sow feed consumption in the lactating period." Vilofoss explained.

"Large differences in feed consumption also exist, not only between farms but also within the same farrowing herd. Lemay and Guay (JRP 2017) noted that lactation feed intake ranges from one to five."

Vilofoss elaborated: "According to the recent results from Schothorst Feed Research (2016) on lactating sow, only 14% of primiparous cover their need for digestible lysine estimated at 45g/d because of insufficient feed consumption. Other categories of sows are also affected by this deficit, such as sows with large litter size (> 13 piglets) and multi-parous sows with a low appetite. It is (more likely that) the entire herd that can be affected by a drop in feed consumption during heat stress in certain areas, which will decrease performance (followed by) negative consequences on the next reproductive cycle."

To mitigate these challenges, Vilofoss formulated Appimilk, a protein that is well-balanced in amino acids and macro- and micro-nutrients concentrate that seeks to compensate for deficiencies. The product, the company pointed out, is able to maximise milk production and litter growth, and mitigate a drop in body condition.

According to Vilofoss, the development of the product is based "on a recent update of the lysine requirement of (the) lactating sow" and takes into account "the large variability of sow feed consumption" and litter size.

"AppiMilk is based on the difference between the amount of digestible lysine intake and the requirement of each category of sows in order to identify the categories of sows in deficit," said Vilofoss.

The product "compensates nutrient deficiency related to insufficient feed consumption." It could also help to mitigate a second parity syndrome, maintain the maximum number of piglets and reduce the impact of heat stress on the reproductive system.

- Vilofoss