The effect of organic acid inclusion in diets on the growth performance of early weaned piglets

Extract

The incorporation of various organic acids into diets fed to weaned, growing pigs has been shown to improve growth performance. This research has concentrated on the response of pigs in the 5-110 kg liveweight range. The aim of the present study was to examine the response of piglets weaned at 10 days of age (approximately 3 kg live weight) to the inclusion of either 3% citric acid or 1.5% fumaric acid in their diet. A second trial was performed to elucidate the effect on diet palatability of including these organic acid additives.

Trial One: This involved 162 Large White x (Large White x Landrace) piglets which were weaned at 10 days of age. Following weaning, piglets were penned in litter-mate groups (2 groups/treatment) and allocated to one of three dietary treatments. The diets contained either 3% citric acid (CA), 1.5% fumaric acid (FA) or no additional organic acid (NA) , and were fed ad libitum in a pelleted form. The trial period extended from weaning for a period of 25 days. Piglets were weighed at weaning and at the completion of the period, water was available ad libitum.