FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LaktoWeyxin® forte (emulsion)
Agalactia Prevention
Right from the start!
· prevents nutritional milk deficiency
· increases milk yield
· optimizes the milk yield curve
· ensures early nutritional uptake by piglets
· improves birth weights and reduces the numbers born dead
· reduces mortality rates in pigs born alive
· improves weaning weight in piglets significantly – by up to 900 g per animal
· prevents variable growth rates within the litter
Summary Report on the use of Lakto-Weyxin® forte at the PBS Livestock Pig Unit, Checkendon, Oxfordshire, UK
Treatments carried out between 3 June and 1 August 1999.
The sows and gilts were fed Lakto-Weyxin forte® @ 2ml x twice daily for about a week before and for a week after farrowing. It is recommended that it is fed for about two weeks after farrowing.
RESULTS as mean values (s.d.) for TREATMENT and CONTROL
Average days treated before farrowing: 8.86 days (2.62) NIL
Average days treated post farrowing 7.86 days (2.51) NIL
Total number of days treated 16.73 days NIL
Average Sow Age PARITIES 5.14 (2.62) 4.68 (2.26)
Average Gestation length 114.45 days (1.06) 114.00 (0.88)
Average Total Born 12.41 pigs (3.78) 12.37 (3.39)
Average Born Alive 11.41 pigs (3.54) 10.58 (2.80)
Average Born Dead 1.00 pigs (0.87) *sig 0.05 1.74 (1.72)
Average Total Litter Weight at Birth 18.13 kg (4.34) *sig 0.05 16.08 kg (3.42)
Average Birth Weight per Pig 1.59 kg (0.46) 1.52 kg (0.53)
Average Fosters ± -0.86 pigs (5.52) -0.05 (4.64)
Average Numbers Weaned 9.95 pigs (3.59) 9.00 (3.11)
Average Age at Weaning 22.23 days (2.33) 21.79 (1.40)
Average Piglet Weight at Weaning 6.41 kg (0.87) *sig 0.05 6.92 kg (0.78)
Average Total Litter Weight at Weaning 63.73 kg (23.09) 61.94 kg (19.51)
Average Piglet Mortality per Litter 0.95 pigs (1.13) # 1.58 (1.68)
Average Weight Gain per Pig 4.82 kg 5.40 kg
Average Weight Gain per Litter 47.95 kg 48.61 kg
Average (adjusted to) 21 Day Weight 45.30 kg 46.84 kg
Number of Sows in Treatment: 22 21
The results yield significant differences at the 5% level (Student’s t-Test for Independent Means) for the average numbers born dead and for the average total litter birth weight. This suggests that the treated animals had significantly lower born dead and higher birth weight levels than the untreated controls.
The average number weaned per litter was more than 10% higher in the treated group compared to the controls, although this failed to reach the required 5% level for statistical significance. The average piglet weight at weaning was 0.51kg higher in the controls and this proved significantly different at the 5% level. The litter weight gain from birth to weaning was similar in the treated and the control sows, with a slightly higher Total Litter Weight in the treated sows, although this is slightly reversed when the average Weight Gain per Litter and the estimated 21 day weight are calculated.
The Average Piglet Mortality expressed as pigs died per litter between birth and weaning appears considerably lower in the treated group, although this narrowly fails to achieve the required 5% level for statistical significance.
The balance of piglets fostered on and off is also different (not statistically) between the treated and the control. The treated animals had 0.81 pigs per litter more fostered off (the balance from both were fostered onto animals excluded from the analysis because they were kept back or phase weaned to rear the extra piglets). If these animals are considered, then the treated animals should have this weight credited and it would thus add weight to their total output. Despite this adjustment the total weight gain for treated and untreated controls would remain similar.
Based on this small trial the product appears to improve birth weight, reduce the number of pigs born dead and help rear more piglets per litter. In this trial, based on piglet weight gain, the sow’s lactation performance does not appear to have been influenced either way. There is no evidence of an MMA type Agalactia problem in the sows and this may simply confirm that it is not currently a clinical problem in this herd.
The treated animals appear to have farrowed down with larger numbers born alive, fewer born dead and with heavier birth weights; and this from very similar total pigs born alive plus dead. Expressed as a % this gave the treated sows 4.6% more piglets born alive and 57.5% fewer pigs born dead (statistically significant at the 0.05% level). Total Litter Birth Weights were 12.75% higher (statistically significant at the 0.05% level).
The number of piglets reared per litter was 10.55% greater in the treated sows compared to the control, although this failed to produce a statistically significant difference.
COMMENT
This small trial suggests that Lakto-Weyxin forte also has the potential to improve litter performance in herds in the absence of any clinical evidence of MMA. This suggests that it has an economically significant positive effect and can be included within the feeding strategies of the breeding herd on a routine basis.
Neville Beynon, N&R SERVICES
26 October, 1999.
For More Information Contact:
Veyx-Pharma UK
37 St Patricks Avenue, Charvil, READING, Berks UK RG10 9RA
Tel: 0118 901 7522
FAX: 0118 901 7568
Internet:
veyxuk@veyx.co.uk