Study adds weight to healthy feed claims. Piglets have a healthier gut and gain more in weight when they are weaned on feed supplemented with HP 300 from Hamlet Protein. A study, conducted for Hamlet Protein at ccl research, the Netherlands, has compared the effect of our nutritious soya protein with that of standard soya bean meal on piglet growth and wellbeing.
Protein strengthens piglet growth
The results of the study have added more weight to the case for supplementing piglet feed with the specialty soya protein HP 300 from Hamlet Protein. Pig farmers who choose piglet feed containing HP 300 can expect a smoother weaning phase with reduced susceptibility to E. Coli bacteria, improved feed intake and increased body weight gain, according to this study. That means healthier animals and higher profits on the bottom line.
Conducted by CCL Research in The Netherlands, the study compared the effect on piglets fed a wheat-barley-corn diet supplemented with HP 300 or conventional soya bean meal. On day six and seven of the 14-day study, the piglets were challenged with E. Coli K88 — a common bacteria in pigs and a frequent cause of diarrhoea and piglet mortality.
Significant weight gain
Overall, the average weight gain of the piglets fed HP 300 was 28% higher than that of the group on the diet supplemented with soya bean meal, while feed intake increased just 14%. A substantial improvement in feed utilisation was found.
«At this improved growth rate, piglets can be expected to reach a target weight of 30 kg in 72 days — around five days faster than the average for conventional feed,» says Lars Sangill Andersen, Feed Application Manager at Hamlet Protein.
| days | НР 300 | Soya bean meal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth (kg) | 0–6 | 1,13 | 0,77 |
| 7–14 | 2,23 | 1,87 | |
| 0–14 | 3,36 | 2,63 | |
| Feed intake (kg) | 0–6 | 1,26 | 1,11 |
| 7–14 | 3,10 | 2,70 | |
| 0–14 | 4,36 | 3,81 |
In addition, the improved feed efficiency and lower age on reaching 30 kg gives a feed saving of around 3.5 kg feed per piglet.
High E. Coli resistance
Faecal samples taken at regular intervals during the study period showed consistently lower faecal shedding of E. coli in the piglets on the HP 300-supplemented diet. Lars Sangill Andersen puts the finding down to the composition of HP 300, which contains none of the natural soya sugars that promote E. coli growth in the gut.
«The low faecal shedding of E. coli is the direct explanation for the increased weight gain,» he comments.
«This shows the piglets were able to recover from stress more quickly — a significant benefit that saves labour, time and costs for the farmer.»
HP 300 — A valuable supplement to piglet feed
- Improved gut health*
- Increased growth rate
- Higher profits
* Due to the correction of a nutritional imbalance in the gut.
Please contact us for further information about the trial results.
Feed Application Manager Lars Sangill Andersen:lsa@hamletprotein.dk
phone: +45 75 63 10 20