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Simple Summary: One of the goals of the Feed Sustainability Charter is the inclusion of a circular feed concept in animal production. Although it is still not possible to replace traditional feed production, the supplementation of diets with alternative ingredients able to maintain animal production appears to be a promising step. This study investigated the effects of supplementing a commercial diet with leftovers (stems and leaves) of bitter gourd (6.5 or 13 g/kg) on the performance, carcass characteristics, and serum parameters of growing-finishing pigs. None of the tested inclusion levels of bitter gourd affected pig production, mortality, or carcass quality, as well as serum levels of urea, insulin, or leptin. In conclusion, bitter gourd leftovers can be included in the diet of growing-finishing pigs. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of bitter gourd (BG) leftovers (stems and leaves) as an alternative dietary ingredient on pig performance, carcass characteristics, serum parameters (urea, insulin, and leptin levels), and faecal consistency. Healthy Tempo × Great Yorkshire and Landrace pigs (N = 240; 120 gilts and 120 boars) weighing 25.8 kg (9–10 weeks of age) were randomly assigned to three treatments (eight pens per treatment; each pen with five gilts and five boars). The three treatments consisted of a non-supplemented commercial diet (control; CON) and a CON diet supplemented with 6.5 g/kg BG (BG1) or 13 g/kg BG (BG2). Pigs were fed the experimental diets until slaughter (120 kg body weight; BW). Feed intake was recorded daily and calculated for each experimental phase (i.e., days 0–36, days 36–66, days 66–98, and the overall experimental period). Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated. The frequencies of visiting the feed station and of feeding were recorded daily. Faecal scores (FS) for consistency were measured per pen twice weekly. On the day of slaughter, two pigs per pen (one male and one female) were randomly selected for the measurement of muscle thickness and blood collection. At the slaughterhouse, carcass weight, dressing percentage, back fat thickness, muscle depth, and lean meat percentage were recorded. Data were analysed using ANOVA, with the pen as the experimental unit. Diets BG1 or BG2 did not affect the performance of the pigs, except for a significant decrease in the ADG of the pigs fed the BG2 diet in the feeding period of 50–80 kg. However, no differences in performance were observed in the overall experimental period. Faecal scores, carcass quality, and serum levels of urea, insulin, and leptin were also not affected by the diet. In summary, leftovers (stems and leaves) of BG can be successfully added to the diet of growing-finishing pigs without interfering with performance and carcass characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to provide insight in how to formulate pig diets in the most economical way in times of high feedstuff prices. Regarding this, energy level and the way of calculating energy in swine feeds will be taking into consideration, as well as the nutrients to energy ratios. Moreover, the effects of diet concentration on feed intake and growth performance of pigs will be evaluated. The lowest cost per energy value in swine feeds can be assessed by iterative simulations in least cost calculations using linear programming. In this case, a fixed nutrient to energy ratio has to be maintained for each cost per energy value that is calculated. Since feedstuff prices are subject to changes, these calculations have to be made on a regular basis. A dataset of 6 growth performance experiments in growing finishing (GF) pigs varying in energy values performed at Schothorst Feed Research (SFR) was analyzed. While decreasing the net energy value of the feed (at fixed nutrient to energy ratios), feed intake and energy conversion increased, while energy intake, daily gain and feed conversion ratio decreased. In general, pigs fed diets with reduced energy concentration are prone to maintain constant daily energy intake by eating more feed until feed intake is limited by other factors, such as physical gut capacity or certain dietary components (Li and Patience, 2017). In the same SFR analysis, the effect of the lysine (and other essential AA) to NE ratio was investigated. While decreasing this ratio, feed intake and energy intake were unaffected, while daily gain decreased, and the feed conversion ratio and energy conversion ratio increased. Another analysis of several GF experiments conducted at SFR was done to assess the optimal amino ccid (SID EAA) content of grower/finisher pig feeds in relation to technical performance, carcass characteristics and profitability. It was concluded that decreasing the SID AA/NE ratio to a certain extend will decrease technical performance (ADG and lean meat %) but increase economical results. However, it must be taken into account that optimal economic performance depends on market situation (feedstuff prices) and production goals (optimal ADG, carcass quality or costs/kg pork). In the current situation with high feedstuff prices, the inclusion of fibrous rich byproducts in the Dutch market may be more economical than corn and soybean meal. For an optimal estimation of the proportion of energy of those fibrous byproducts that will be attributed to the growth and maintenance energy requirements of the pigs, the net energy system is more appropriate than the metabolizable energy (ME) system, because the ME system overestimates the proportion of energy that will be used for growth and maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated effects of an algaeclay-based mycotoxin decontaminant on levels of zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON) and their derivatives in the colostrum, milk, and serum of sows, as well as in the serum of weaned piglets after maternal mycotoxin exposure from the last week of gestation to weaning (26 days). To this end, 15 sows split into 3 groups (n = 5/group) were fed diets naturally contaminated with 100 (LoZEN) or 300 (HiZEN) µg/kg ZEN, with or without an algae-clay-based mycotoxin decontaminant in the highly contaminated diet. All diets contained 250 µg/kg DON. Dietary treatments did not influence the performance of the sows and piglets. Only a-ZEL significantly increased in the colostrum of sows fed the HiZEN diet, and this increase was even greater in the colostrum of the sows fed the HiZEN diet supplemented with the test decontaminant. However, no differences in milk mycotoxin concentrations were observed at weaning. The greatest concentrations of ZEN, a-ZEL, and β-ZEL were observed in the serum of sows fed the HiZEN diet. When the HiZEN diet was supplemented with the tested algae-clay-based mycotoxin decontaminant, lconcentrations of ZEN and its metabolites were significantly decreased in the serum of sows. Although all sows were fed the same levels of DON, the serum concentration of de-epoxy-DON increased only in the serum of piglets from the sows fed a diet with the non-supplemented HiZEN diet. In conclusion, the tested algae-clay-based mycotoxin decontaminant can decrease concentrations of ZEN and its metabolites in the serum of sows and the level of de-DON in the serum of piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pig-breeding businesses have resulted in global breeding programs that select pigs to perform well on high-energy high-protein diets, which are traditionally based on corn and soybean meal. Nowadays, there is a shift toward diets based on cereals and co-products, therefore, high dietary inclusion of co-products can modify the expected performance of these pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding a cereals-alternative ingredients diet (CA-diet) compared to a corn-soybean meal diet (CS-diet) on the growth performance, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics of genetically similar growing- finishing gilts and boars. In total, 160 pigs, 80 gilts and 80 boars, coming from 18 litters were used. The pigs were blocked based on litter, to ensure no genetic differences between the 2 treatments. For the starter phase, pigs fed the CA-diet performed in terms of growth, and feed efficiency, as good as the pigs fed CS-diet (P > 0.05). For the grower phase, pigs fed the CA-diet had the same ADFI (P > 0.05), but a lower daily energy intake (ADEI) (P < 0.001), and same growth performance (P > 0.05) than pig fed the CS-diet, therefore pigs fed the CA-diet were more efficient in terms of residual energy intake (REI) (P < 0.001). For the finisher phase, interaction between diet and sex had an effect on ADFI (P < 0.001), ADEI (P < 0.001), ADG (P = 0.010), and lipid deposition (Ld) (P = 0.016). Pigs fed the CA-diet were less efficient than pigs fed the CS-diet, i.e., G:F (P < 0.001), RFI (P < 0.001), and REI (P = 0.007). In general, feeding a CA-diet to pigs showed to improve the ratio between Pd and Ld, especially for boars. Also, pigs fed the CA-diet showed thinner back fat thickness (P < 0.001), same loin depth thickness (P > 0.05), but lower dressing percentage (P < 0.001), than pigs fed the CS-diet [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Throughout the world, piglet mortality and morbidity in large litters are a major welfare concern and source of economic losses. Gastro-intestinal problems rank amongst the highest causes of morbidity, mortality and antimicrobial use. As evidenced in the recent literature, nutritional interventions before and after weaning can modulate gut development, thereby reducing the risk of gastro-intestinal problems. In particular, early-life nutrition has begun to receive increasing interest, given its potential to modulate gut health in the long-term. The literature nevertheless contains little information on how pre-weaning and post-weaning nutritional strategies can be combined to sustain optimal gut health throughout the challenging process of weaning. To address this gap in current knowledge, this review summarises a large body of literature on nutritional strategies aimed at supporting gut health in piglets, combining individual strategies into a structured nutritional approach over time, starting from a few days after birth to 5–6 weeks post-weaning. The review also contains propositions concerning potential avenues for future research that may contribute to the reduction in gastro-intestinal problems and the associated use of antimicrobials in the pig industry. This is a comprehensive review on the use of nutritional strategies to shape the functioning of the gastro-intestinal tract in suckling and weaned piglets. The progressive development of a piglet's gut and the associated microbiota and immune system offers a unique window of opportunity for supporting gut health through dietary modulation. This is particularly relevant for large litters, for which sow colostrum and milk are insufficient. The authors have therefore proposed the use of supplemental milk and creep feed with a dual purpose. In addition to providing nutrients to piglets, supplemental milk can also serve as a gut modulator in early life by incorporating functional ingredients with potential long-term benefits. To prepare piglets for weaning, it is important to stimulate the intake of solid feed before weaning, in addition to stimulating the number of piglets eating. The use of functional ingredients in creep feed and a transition diet around the time of weaning helps to habituate piglets to solid feed in general, while also preparing the gut for the digestion and fermentation of specific ingredients. In the first days after weaning (i.e., the acute phase), it is important to maintain high levels of feed intake and focus on nutritional strategies that support good gastric (barrier) function and that avoid overloading the impaired digestion and fermentation capacity of the piglets. In the subsequent maturation phase, the ratio of lysine to energy can be increased gradually in order to stimulate piglet growth. This is because the digestive and fermentation capacity of the piglets is more mature at this stage, thus allowing the inclusion of more fermentable fibres. Taken together, the nutritional strategies addressed in this review provide a structured approach to preparing piglets for success during weaning and the period that follows. The implementation of this approach and the insights to be developed through future research can help to achieve some of the most important goals in pig production: reducing piglet mortality, morbidity and antimicrobial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonanoic acid (NA) is one of a group of straight-chain aliphatic aldehydes, acids and their derivatives with a long and established history of use as flavors in human food and animal feed. The use of this group of flavors in feed was evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2013 and in the absence of data in the target species, maximum safe levels were derived from available toxicology studies of 12 mg for piglets, and 20 mg for grower/finisher pigs and sows per kg complete feed containing 120 g/kg moisture. These established safe levels limit the practical use of NA as a flavoring in swine diets and the objective of this study was to evaluate the tolerance to piglets of NA at significantly higher dietary levels that are relevant to commercial feeding practices. Three hundred eighty four (192 males, 192 females), cross bred [Tempo x (Large White x Landrace)] post-weaned piglets with an initial body weight (BW) of between 6.5 and 8.5 kg and age of 26 days were used in a 42-day tolerance study. Piglets were randomly assigned to one of 64 pens containing either 6 males or 6 females. One of 4 dietary treatments were fed to the piglets containing NA at 0, 100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg complete feed. General health and performance were monitored for the duration of the study. At day 42, blood samples were taken and piglets were sacrificed and necropsied for pathological examination of the digestive tract. NA supplementation had no effect (P > 0.05) on the daily feed intake (DFI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) or fecal consistency over the 42-day period. No treatment related effects (P > 0.05) on hematology or blood biochemistry parameters were reported and all values fell within normal ranges. There were no treatment-related findings from macroscopic and microscopic examination of digestive tissues. The results of the study support the tolerance to piglets of NA in feed treated with 1000 mg/kg complete feed of which 720 mg/kg was recovered, which is considerably higher than anticipated practical conditions of use as a feed flavoring. • Weaned piglets were fed graded levels of nonanoic acid in the diet for 42 days. • There were no treatment related changes in growth performance, blood parameters and tissue pathology. • Nonanoic acid was well-tolerated by piglets at levels of up to 1000 mg/kg complete feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]