performance-swine

Swine Trials at North Carolina State University

• Trials completed at North Carolina State University
• Only commercial control diet contained antibiotics
• No antibiotics or vaccines were used in MrFeed® test diets
• Tests diets were prepared at the university
• The Stage 1 of the study was to observe survival and FCR across 35 days after weaning, i.e. beyond the initial 21 days (total 56 days)
• The Stage 2 of the study was to observe survival and FCR across 16 weeks to achieve market weight, i.e. beyond the initial 56 days (total 162 days)

Trial Conditions for Weaning Pigs

Summary-Trial Data Across 56 Days

Trial started with a total of 192 SPG pigs (Smithfield Premium Genetics, standard commercial line of pigs, predominantly Yorkshire/Duroc cross)

• Four pigs per penSummary-Trial Data Across 56 Days
• The Stage 1 trial starts with 21 days old weaning piglets, ending at age 56 days

Three diet conditions were tested:

• 0% MrFeed® Pro50 Sw
• 5% MrFeed® Pro50 Sw
• Commercial blend nursery feed
  

  Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

Blood, fecal and tissue collection from one animal per pen to measure immune function (cytokines)

• Samples collected on days 7, 21, and 35 of trial (piglet age 28, 42 and 56 days)
• Fecal samples examined for fecal microflora

At the end of trial, these same animals are analyzed for:

• Intestinal health: Duodenum and jejunim analyzed for villus height, crypt depth and cell proliferation
• Oxidative stress and liver function

Trial Data For 56 to 84 Days

Trial Conditions

Pigs from Stage 1 were randomly divided into two diet treatments:

• 0% MrFeed® Pro50 Sw
• 2.75% MrFeed® Pro50 Sw

Trial length:  Approximately 16 weeks (age 56 – 162 days, or until they reach market at approximately 280 lbs live weight/210 lbs carcass weight)

At the end of Stage 2, animals were processed at the commercial facility and analyzed for:

• Carcass weight
  

  Trial Data For Finisher Trial up to 162 Days

• Water holding capacity (measurement of meat quality) to be tested on the chops