Use of new feed additive based on lecithin in feeding piglets
Authors:   Volga Region Research Institute of Manufacture and Processing of Meat-and-Milk Production, Abramov S.V. , Balyshev A.V. ,   Volga Region Research Institute of Manufacture and Processing of Meat-and-Milk Production, Starodubova Yu.V. ,   Volga Region Research Institute of Manufacture and Processing of Meat-and-Milk Production, Nevzorova A.A. ,   Volga Region Research Institute of Manufacture and Processing of Meat-and-Milk Production
Published: February 2025

Purpose. To study the effect of the feed additive " Lecitomaks " on the live weight of suckling and weaned piglets of the Large White breed and their blood indices, digestibility of feed nutrients, and survival of the piglet population.
Materials and Methods. The objects of the study were suckling piglets (age 7 days) and weaned piglets (age 2 months), whose diet included the feed additive " Lecithomaks " based on lecithin. Two experiments were conducted with a total of 414 heads: 216 suckling piglets (the experiment lasted 23 days) and 198 weaned piglets (the experiment lasted 30 days). To evaluate the efficiency of the feed additive in each age and sex group, 2 experimental and 1 control groups were formed from the experimental pig population. The number of animals in each experimental group was the same.
In each of the experimental groups, the feed additive was fed to pigs as part of the compound feed daily. Taking into account the recommendations of Commission Regulation (EU) No. 429, the dosage of the test sample was carried out in accordance with the minimum and maximum doses provided for in the draft instructions for use – 250 g (experimental group 1) and 500 g (experimental group 2) per 1 ton of feed. Animals of the control groups received feed that did not contain the feed additive under study. The animals of the control groups received feed that did not contain the studied feed additive. The rations for the animals of the experimental groups were calculated using the program "Feed Optima Expert", according to the detailed feeding standards. Blood samples were taken from the ear vein of 10 heads from each group. Live weight, absolute, average daily live weight gain were determined according to GOST 31962-2013. To control the live weight, 10 heads from each control and experimental groups were weighed: in the experiment on suckling piglets – on the 7th and 30th days; in the experiment on weaned piglets – on the 30th and 60th days. The data of the experimental results were processed using the methods of variation statistics and the program "Statistica 10.0".
Results. The suckling piglets of the experimental group 1 (the dose of the feed additive was 250 g / t of feed) exceeded the animals of the control group by 6.49% in body weight, those of the experimental group 2 (the dose of the feed additive was 500 g / t of feed) by 8.70%, the average daily live weight gain by 5.40 (P≥0.999) and 8.40% (P≥0.999), and the absolute live weight gain by 5.40 and 8.40%. The difference between the blood parameters of the piglets of the experimental groups and the control group in terms of hematocrit was 1.00 and 1.20%, hemoglobin concentration was 1.94 and 5.16% (P≥0.95), and the number of erythrocytes was 3.30 and 4.10%. The blood of piglets from the experimental groups contained 3.28 and 1.37% less leukocytes, respectively. The total protein content in the blood serum of experimental piglets was higher in relation to the control group by 4.75 and 8.53% (P≥0.95). The survival rate of the experimental piglets was 2.80% higher than in the control ones. The digestibility of dry matter was significantly higher in experimental group 1 by 3.41%, in experimental group 2 – 4.02% (P≥0.99), organic matter – by 2.03 and 3.43% (P≥0.99), crude protein – by 2.25 (P≥0.99) and 2.51% (P≥0.99), crude fat – by 2.89 (P≥0.95) and 3.75% (P≥0.99), crude fiber – by 1.43 and 1.87% (P≥0.95) and nitrogen-free extractive substances – by 2.17 and 3.26% (P≥0.95) compared to the control group. Weaned piglets in the first experimental group (feed additive dose of 250 g / t of feed) exceeded their control counterparts in live weight by 6.69%, in the second experimental group (feed additive dose of 500 g/t of feed) – by 11.70%, in average daily gain – by 10.97 and 19.24% (P≥0.95), in absolute gain – by 10.97 (P≥0.95) and 19.24% (P≥0.95). In animals of the experimental groups, hematocrit values were higher by 0.70 and 1.0%, hemoglobin concentration by 4.16 and 5.82% (P≥0.95), the number of erythrocytes by 5.41 and 6.02%, and the level of total protein in the blood serum by 3.17 and 6.64% (P≥0.95). The digestibility of dry matter by piglets in the experimental groups compared to the control group was higher by 2.69 (P≥0.95) and 3.15% (P≥0.99), organic matter – by 2.51 and 2.94% (P≥0.99), crude protein – by 1.69 and 2.20% (P≥0.95), crude fat – by 3.93 (P≥0.999) and 4.68% (P≥0.999), crude fiber – by 3.63 (P≥0.999) and 4.53% (P≥0.999), nitrogen-free extractive substances – by 3.18 (P≥0.99) and 3.57% (P≥0.999).
Conclusion. The use of the feed additive "Lecitomax" in the minimum and maximum recommended doses when raising suckling piglets and weaned piglets has a beneficial effect on their live weight, hematological indices, digestibility and assimilation of feed nutrients, and animal survival.