Abstract

BRAZ, D.B. et al. Acidifiers as alternatives to antimicrobial growth promoter of weanling pigs. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2011, vol.60, n.231, pp.745-756. ISSN 1885-4494.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S0004-05922011000300062.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate several acidifier blens as alternatives to antimicrobial growth promoters of weanling pigs. A 34-d randomized complete block design experiment was carried out to compare five treatments using one hundred and sixty Topigs 24d-weaned pigs, with 6.69±1.82 kg live weight. For 1-14 d experimental period (24 to 38 days old), the treatments were: Am - pre-starter diet with 0.004% of colistin sulfate; A1 - pre-starter diet with 0.5% of blend 1 (containing formic acid, 145000 ppm; phosphoric acid, 85000 ppm); A2 - pre-starter diet with 0.15% of blend 2 (butyric acid, 64000 ppm) and 0.4% of blend 3 (lactic acid, 620000 ppm; formic acid, 40 000 ppm); A3 - pre-starter diet with 0.8% of blend 4 (propionic acid, 198000 ppm; acetic acid, 196000 ppm; formic acid, 196000 ppm; phosphoric acid, 21000 ppm; citric acid, 8500 ppm); and A4 - pre-starter diet with 0.6% of blend 4 and 0.15% of blend 5 (benzoic acid, 590000 ppm; formic acid, 70000 ppm; phosphoric acid, 50000 ppm; citric acid, 40000 ppm). For 1434 d experimental period, the treatments were: Am - starter diet with 0.004% of colistin sulfate; A1 starter diet with 0.3% of blend 1; A2 - starter diet with 0.1% of blend 2 and 0.3% of blend 3; A3 starter diet with 0.6% of blend 4; and A4 - starter diet with 0.5% of blend 4 and 0.1% of blend 5. The pigs were allotted to 20 suspended pens, with four pigs per experimental unit. For 1-14 d experimental period, treatment A2 gave better body weight at 14th day (BW14) and average daily gain (ADG) than A3, and better feed conversion (FC) than Am. For total experimental period (1-34 d), A4 gave better FC than Am. Treatments did not affect diarrhea frequency and stomach pH. Treatment A4 gave lower pH value than Am. For intestinal morphology, A2 provided smaller jejunum crypt depth (CD) than A3 and Am, and bigger ratio of jejunum villus height:crypt depth than A1 and A3. The acidifiers are a potential alternative to antimicrobial growth promoter for weanling piglets.

Keywords : Organic acids; Additives; Performance; Piglets.

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