The research funded by Novus International, in partnership with the University of Bologna, explains how dietary supplementation with a blend of protected aromatic compound impacts piglet growth performance and gut health
The study entitled, “Effect of dietary supplementation with a blend of protected aromatic compounds, including benzoic acid, on growth performance and faecal microbial profile of weaned piglets as an alternative to Zinc Oxide”, is included in the Journal’s April issue (Volume 246) and helps to shed light on how feeding piglets with Novus’s Proveniatm feed supplement can positively impact piglet gut health and performance, while improving feed conversion rate.
Proveniatm is a combination of embedded aromatic compounds, including benzoic acid as main component, in a fat matrix allowing the active compounds to reach the distal gastrointestinal tract compartments, thus favourably impacting gut health by improving the growth of naturally producing butyric acid bacteria in piglets.
Dr Marisol Castillo, senior technical services manager (swine, north Europe), who conducted the studies, said, “The study demonstrates the efficacy of Proveniatm in the post-weaning period as an alternative strategy to zinc oxide. It also shows remarkable beneficial effects on gut micro biota of the piglets.”
The research concludes that the supplementation with Proveniatm positively influenced the microbial profile of weaned piglets by increasing the alpha diversity, and by favouring the proliferation of known beneficial bacteria related to the metabolism of polysaccharides and production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). These findings on the faecal microbial profile help to explain the higher average daily gain (ADG) and lower feed conversion rate (FCR) observed in piglets supplemented with Provenia Tm.
