The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing doses of bacterial phytase (RONOZYME HiPhos) on performance and carcass characteristics of growing and finishing pigs. The study included 120 castrated males with initial weight of 23.21 ± 1.91 kg and 68 days of age, distributed in a randomized block design with five treatments and eight replicates with three animals each. The pigs were fed five corn-soybean meal-based diets: positive control (PC), supplemented with inorganic phosphorus and calcium; negative control (NC), with 0.13% reduction in available phosphorus and 0.11% in calcium; and three NC diets supplemented with 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 phytase units (FYT)/kg in the feed. Compared with the NC diets without phytase, diets with 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 FYT/kg inclusion increased the daily weight gain by +12% (quadratic, p<0.05) during the growing I period; +2.9, +2.9, and +10.5% (linear, p<0.01), respectively, during the growing II period; and +4.1, +5.1, and +8.2% (linear, p<0.001), respectively, over the entire experimental period. The daily feed intake increased by 0, +2.8, and +4.3% (linear, p<0.05), respectively, considering the entire experimental period; and the final live weight increased by +3.2, +4.2, and +6.1% (linear, p<0.001), respectively. The phytase treatments did not influence feed conversion ratio, carcass weight and yield, backfat thickness, loin depth and carcass lean meat. According to the European Carcass Classification (SEUROP), however, the animals fed the PC diet and the three phytase levels had more carcasses classified as E (between 55–60% lean meat) when compared to carcasses of pigs fed the NC. Supplementing increasing levels of phytase to a corn- and soybean meal-based diet with inorganic P and Ca reduction improved daily weight gain and feed intake of growing pigs, and such effects were maintained until slaughter age.

A suinocultura industrial brasileira é representativa em nível mundial, detendo uma produção de qualidade reconhecida e competitiva, na qual a classifica como quarta maior exportadora, contribuindo expressivamente com o PIB do país. Por sua vez, o tema bem-estar animal (BEA), que já se encontra bem estabelecido em importantes países produtores de suínos, vem ganhando notoriedade nesta cadeia, com consumidores, investidores e empresas alimentícias pressionando a indústria brasileira para incrementar estas práticas. Baseado em informações da literatura científica, atos administrativos, materiais técnicos e comunicados produzidos pelo setor privado, esta revisão apresenta o cenário brasileiro do bem-estar dos suínos, incluindo informações sobre a avaliação científica do BEA, como empresas e consumidores percebem o tema, os atos administrativos e demais iniciativas oficiais, a situação da transição do sistema de gestação em celas para o modelo coletivo e algumas das contribuições da pesquisa nacional. O cenário do bem-estar dos suínos no país é desafiador, mas há uma mobilização e esforços significativos de toda a cadeia, envolvendo a iniciativa pública e privada, já com resultados efetivos e práticos, sinalizando que embora o caminho seja laborioso o país avança verticalmente nesta questão.

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of chelated iron supplementation on gestating and lactating sows and on their suckling and weaned piglets. Reproductive traits, piglet performance, hematological parameters, and the iron concentrations in colostrum, milk, and stillborn livers were measured. Ninety-six sows were subjected to one of three treatment groups. Group T1 comprised pregnant and lactating sows treated with diets supplemented with inorganic iron (551 mg Fe/kg) and suckling piglets administered 200 mg of injectable iron dextran. Group T2 was the same as T1, except that sows after 84 days of gestation, lactating sows, and suckling piglets were fed a diet supplemented with 150 mg Fe/kg of chelated iron, and suckling piglets were administered injectable iron dextran. Group T3 was the same as T2 but without injectable iron dextran for suckling piglets. During the nursery phase, all of the weaned piglets were penned with their original groups or treatments and received isonutritive and isocaloric feeds. Piglets from the T2 and T3 groups also received an additional 150 mg Fe/kg of chelated iron via their feed. There were no differences among the treatments for reproductive traits or the iron concentrations in the colostrum, milk, or liver. The piglets that did not receive the injectable iron dextran showed the poorest performance during the pre-and post-weaning phases and showed the poorest hematological parameters of the suckling piglets. The chelated iron supplementation is insufficient to meet piglet demand. The iron dextran supply is necessary for suckling and weaned piglets.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of commercial blends of organic and inorganic acids combined with essential oils for piglets in the nursery phase. The formulations were administered as microcapsules or as acid salts. Ninety-six, Pen Ar Lan, barrow and female piglets, weaned at a body weight of 600 kg ± 12 kg and age of 23 days were subjected to four treatments. The animals were distributed in randomized blocks of three animals per pen and 8 replicates per treatment. The treatments consisted of four different diets: control (free of organic acids); acid and essential oil blends (fumaric acid 10,5%, malic acid 8.0%, essential oils; in microencapsulated form); microencapsulated acid blend (phosphoric acid 10%, citric acid 10%, malic acid 10%, fumaric acid 20%; in microencapsulated form); and acid salt blend (formic acid 40.5%, phosphoric acid 13.6%, propionic acid 4.9% and salts (23.2% calcium and 4.4% phosphorus available). The performance parameters, digestive transit time, weights of organs of the digestive tract, bacterial count of feces (Lactobacillus, E coli and Salmonella ssp and Clostridium), pH of the stomach and duodenal content did not differ between treatment groups (P> 005). All treatments containing organic acids exhibited positive effects on diarrhea control (P <005). The cecal contents of volatile fatty acids (VFA) were higher in piglets fed diets containing acids than in animals that received the control diet (P <005), and blends containing essential oils improved the jejunum villus height compared with the control group. The use of diets containing acids improved diarrhea control and VFA production in the cecum, and specifically the diets containing microencapsulated acid blends required the lowest doses to be effective. Key words: Diarrhea. Organic acids. Villi. Volatile fatty acids. ResumoO objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso de misturas comerciais de ácidos orgânicos e inorgânicos, associados a óleos essenciais, para leitões em fase de creche. Os produtos testados foram administrados na forma microencapsulada ou como sais de ácidos. Foram utilizados 96 leitões da linhagem Pen Ar Lan, machos castrados e fêmeas, desmamados com 6,00 kg ± 1,2 kg de peso vivo e 23 dias de idade, submetidos a quatro tratamentos. Os animais foram distribuídos em blocos ao acaso, em baias com três animais, contemplando oito repetições por tratamento. seguintes dietas: controle (livre de ácidos orgânicos); mistura de ácidos e óleos essenciais: (ácido fumárico: 10,5%, ácido málico: 8,0%, óleos essenciais; na forma microencapsulada); mistura de ácidos microencapsulados (ácido fosfórico: 10%, ácido cítrico: 10%, ácido málico: 10%, ácido fumárico: 20%; na forma microencapsulada); mistura de sais de ácidos (ácido fórmico: 40,5%, ácido fosfórico: 13,6%, ácido propiônico: 4,9% e seus sais: 23,2% de cálcio e 4,4% fósforo disponível). Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos para os parâmetros de desempenho, tempo de trânsito da dieta, peso dos órgãos do trato digestório, contagem bacteriana na...

This study was to evaluate the effect of xylanase supplementation and the addition of live yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, on growth performance and intestinal microbiota in piglets. One hundred and eighty commercial crossbred 23-d-old piglets (PIC 417) were sorted by initial BW and allocated to 3 treatments: control (CTR) diet, CTR diet supplemented with xylanase at 16,000 birch xylan units/kg (XYL) and XYL diet supplemented with live yeast (2 × 10 10 CFU/g) at 1 kg/t (XYL + LY). Each treatment had 10 replicates, with 6 animals each. A sorghum-based diet and water were available ad libitum for 42 d of the study. Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were measured from 0 to 42 d (23- to 65-d-old) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) calculated. At the end of the study, bacterial identification through 16S rRNA (V3 to V4) sequencing of the ileal and caecal digesta from one piglet per replicate was performed. No treatment effects were observed on ADFI. Pigs offered the live yeast in addition to the xylanase had increased ADG compared with those supplemented with xylanase alone (XYL + LY vs. XYL; P = 0.655). FCR was improved with XYL and XYL + LY compared with CTR ( P = 0.018). Clostridiaceae counts in the ileum tended to reduce by 10% with XYL and 14% with XYL + LY compared to CTR ( P = 0.07). XYL and XYL + LY increased the counts of Lactobacillaceae in the caecum compared with CTR ( P < 0.0001). Dietary supplementation of live yeast combined with xylanase improved growth performance and microbial balance of piglets during the nursery phase.

To understand the production factors that affect conclusive parameters of sow herd performance can improve the use of the resources and profitability of farm. The objective of this study was to identify associations and quantify the effects of a set of factors related to piglet weight at weaning (PWW), kilograms of piglets weaned per sow per year (kgPWSY) and sow feed conversion (SFC). Data from 150 farms were collected, for a total study population of 135 168 sows, including gilt replacement, breeding (mating), gestation and farrowing/lactation phases. A questionnaire focusing on reproductive performance, management, facilities, feeding, health and biosafety was administered. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess associations among factors with each of the three dependent variables. Increased duration of lactation was positively associated with PWW, kgPWSY and SFC. The increase in the number of live born pigs per litter was positively associated with kgPWSY and with SFC. Farms with higher PWW had farrowing room humidifiers, did not surgically castrate male piglets and used quaternary ammonia compounds for farrowing room disinfection. Farms with higher kgPWSY used lined ceilings in farrowing rooms and winter feeds with higher CP percentages in gestation; they also had more farrowings per sow per year. Sow feed conversion was worse in farms with partly slatted floors during gestation, in farms feeding lactating sows six times a day or ad libitum and farms with a higher sow-handler ratio. This study indicates that farms can increase PWW and kgPWSY and improve the SFC by changing one or more management, biosafety and feeding practices or facilities as well as by focusing on improving several performance parameters, particularly increasing the duration of lactation and the number of live born pigs per litter.

The effects of increasing doses of bacterial phytase (Citrobacter braakii) on performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs was evaluated. A total of 120 barrows weighing 25.16 ± 2.80 kg and 68 days old were submitted to five treatments: positive control diet (PC) containing inorganic phosphorus (P) and limestone (Ca); negative control (NC) with reductions in P (by 0.13%) and Ca (by 0.11%); and three NC diets supplemented with 1500 (NC15), 3000 (NC30) and 4500 (NC45) units of phytase (FYT)/kg. The daily weight gain (DWG) in growth phase I (68–91 days) was higher in the PC, NC15 and NC30, compared to the NC (1.06, 1.06, 1.06 vs. 0.95, respectively). The DWG in finishing phase II (141–156 days) was higher in the NC15 (1.20 kg) and NC30 (1.14 kg) than in the NC45 (0.94 kg). The final weights (LW156) in the NC15 (122.95 kg LW) were higher than NC (116.47 kg LW) and NC45 (114.43 kg LW). Over the entire period, a quadratic effect (2012 FYT) was observed for the DWG. The increasing levels of phytase in corn and soybean meal-based diets improved the DWG and carcass traits; however, the addition of more than 3000 FYT/kg of feed should be carefully studied to determine enzyme viability.

The control of Salmonella spp. is still an important issue in pork production. Contamination happens at any stage of the production chain and no stand-alone measure is efficient enough to eliminate this pathogen. In order to minimize Salmonella contamination, the farm-to-fork approach is currently used, in which specific measures are implemented in each sector of the production chain. The already known hygiene measures in the abattoir are important to reduce the risk of carcass contamination; however, pre-slaughter conditions have been shown to be high risk factors at slaughter and during processing. Salmonella spread at slaughter can be traced back to the pig herd and therefore, there has been increasing focus on the pre-harvest phase. Numerous studies have identified risk factor for Salmonella infection in pigs and reviews studies have presented interesting and important comparative analyses on this subject. The use of dietary additives for pig and their effects on Salmonella infection have been studied during the last years. Particularly interesting is the use of dietary non-nutritional additives, such as prebiotics, probiotics, phytogenics and essential oils and organic acids. Although, very promising, much research is needed in this field in order to identify the most efficient products and/or compounds and reveal how they act on the bacterium metabolism, aiming to improve the control of Salmonella contamination along the swine production chain. In this review, we surveyed the literature to present a compilation of the scientific knowledge currently available about potential uses of dietary non-nutritional additives to prevent and/or control Salmonella infection in swine populations.