Article written by feed application manager, Lars Sangill Andersen, Hamlet Protein A/S
Reduced use of antibiotics, less diarrhoea and expensive fishmeal
Fishmeal has traditionally been an important source of amino acids in weaning and piglet feed. The reason is a good dige-stibility and outstanding composition of amino acids. During 2009 the fishmeal prices have increased so much that the focus on finding alternatives for fishmeal in the optimization has been increased.
During 2005-2006 fishmeal was taken away from many herds due to the price, and we then experienced that the side effect was a reduction of the weaning diarrhoea. This put focus on fishmeal’s less known negative content of nitrogen which does not originate from the amino acid content, but from other N-compounds (non-protein-nitrogen — colloquially also called NPN).
Figure 1 — NPN content of selected feed stuffs
NPN and undigested protein increase the growth of unwanted bacteria in the intestine and affect the animal’s liver and kidneys by subsequent excretion. This means that it may be possible to achieve a positive effect on the intestinal health by reducing or completely removing fishmeal from the feed.
How is fishmeal replaced in practice?
Some suggestions focus on using soya bean meal. Unfortunately, this increases the crude protein content of the feed and decreases the average digestibility of the feed protein. The result is often an increased risk of weaning diarrhoea.
When fishmeal is replaced it is important to choose alternatives which are at least equally digestible or which can supplement the amino acid content of the other ingredients.
How is fishmeal replaced in practice?
Some suggestions focus on using soya bean meal. Unfortunately, this increases the crude protein content of the feed and decreases the average digestibility of the feed protein. The result is often an increased risk of weaning diarrhoea.
When fishmeal is replaced it is important to choose alternatives which are at least equally digestible or which can supplement the amino acid content of the other ingredients.
Table 1 — Standardised ileal digestibility measured on weaning piglets
| Hamlet protein | Soya bean meal | Extruded soya bean meal | Potato protein | Fishmeal 72 % | Fishmeal 65 % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard ileal digestibility | 92 | 80 | * | 87-89 | 87-91 | 85 |
* There are no tests on standardised ileal digestibility from the manufacturer of extruded soya bean meal, but judging from the analyses it should be close to toasted soya bean meal.
The measured digestibilities show that there is a big difference between soya products. The differences are due to the content of some components in soya which are harmful for especially piglets’ digestion. It applies to all components that they must be as low as possible.
Table 2 — Analysed content of Anti Nutritional Factors in soya products
| Hamlet Protein | Soya bean meal | Extruded soya bean meal |
Soya protein | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude protein (%) | 56,0 | 48,0 | 52,3 | 60,8 |
| Oligosaccharides (%) | 0,5 | 5-6 | 5,7 | 2 |
| Trypsin inhibitors (mg/g protein) | 1,8 | 4-8 | 3,9 | 1,9 |
| Antigen protein (ppm) | 2 | 10 000 | 8500 | 80 |
In practice these differences manifest through daily weight gain and feed utilisation as well as the health condition of the dietary tract.
Table 3 — Feed trial with different soya products at Lundmosegaard, Denmark
| HP 300 from HAMLET PROTEIN in both prestarter and starter feed | Extruded soya bean meal in both prestarter and starter feed | HP 300 in prestarter and HP 200 in starter feed (both from HAMLET PROTEIN) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of piglets | 565 | 527 | 501 |
| Starter weight (kg) | 9,3 | 9,3 | 9,2 |
| Weight after 49 days (kg) | 38,2 | 35,7 | 37,9 |
| Daily weight gain (g) | 587 | 537 | 584 |
| Feed per kg weight gain | 1,4 | 1,48 | 1,51 |
In the optimisation of piglet feed we are much more prepared today than in 2005/2006, because L-Valine has been approved and marketed. This means that the crude protein content can be further reduced and the dependence on valine from fishmeal or potato protein concentrate is considerably smaller.
Our practical experiences and feeding trials in Denmark and abroad show, that the products from Hamlet Protein have a documented effect.
One of the latest trials that comprised Hamlet Protein instead of a large amount of soya bean meal showed a reduction of the problems in the dietary tract. The piglets grew better, had less diarrhoea and a lower need for treatment which resulted in 40% lower medicine costs.
The introduction of blends based upon vegetable protein with a high digestion and a low content of crude protein can help reducing those weaning diarrhoeas which would demand treatment, lower the medicine costs and maintain a high weight gain.
Hamlet Protein in brief
Hamlet Protein develops, manufactures and markets innovative vegetable protein products all over the world. Overall our products for piglet feed contribute to:
• Improved intestinal health
• Improved weight gain
• Higher profit
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