September 27, 2022

 

ForFarmers' VITAL solution to enable zinc-free pig production

 

ForFarmers has been working with producers to identify solutions to removing zinc that will support piglets during the critical weeks of their lives when nutrition and gut health are so vital.

 

Nutritionist Ade Adebiyi explained: "Zinc oxide is typically used for the prevention of two piglet health problems: post-weaning diarrhoea and bowel oedema disease.

 

"The solution needs to be managed through a combination of factors with great nutrition playing a critical role. Understandably, pig producers are looking for guidance as they navigate this transition."

 

ForFarmers' commercial and technical advisor, Emma Slater, said: "We already have our NutriCare framework, which offers producers a holistic view to pinpoint challenges to improve piglet health and vitality. We are delighted to complement this with the latest addition to our VIDA range, VITAL."

 

The new VITAL range has been developed to both support piglet gut health and match weight gain and feed intake when high levels of zinc are removed.

 

Adebiyi added: "After extensive trial work, we have proven that producers don't need to settle for compromised gut health when removing zinc.

 

"The unique combination of highly digestible nutrients and balanced mineral levels avoid gut disorder and looseness. The optimised dietary protein and amino acid levels reduce undigested protein reaching the hind gut, limiting the chances of dysbiosis. And the unique blend of amino acids reduces post-weaning stress aggression."

 

ForFarmers' Nutrition and Innovation Centre (NIC) leads an extensive programme of research and development in the United Kingdom and Europe. Operating internationally means that the company is working with countries at different stages in their zinc journey, enabling the NIC to draw on experiences from producers who have already been through this transition.

 

The NIC team utilised ForFarmers's exclusive Nutripower technology, which incorporates knowledge of digestion kinetics of fibre, starch and protein to ensure good gut health in developing the new range.

 

VITAL has been trialed on thousands of piglets in research units and on UK commercial farms. The results demonstrate that end-of-nursery-period (transfer at around 35-40kg), weights are similar to zinc-included feeding regimes.

 

The feed range has also been trialed on a range of different production systems, genetics, health statuses, feeding regimes and feeding quantities.

 

"We know that growth expectations vary for producers, but the VITAL concept is based on gut health, and when this is optimised, it will go hand-in-hand with maximising performance," Emma explained.

 

VITAL consists of a range of diets, targeted to different health and performance requirements. The diets are all formulated with key additives making VITAL an easy-to-use solution.

 

- ForFarmers