Influence of lecithin emulsifier on the utilisation of nutrients and growth of piglets after weaning

Abstract

The influence of supplementation of a lecithin emulsifier (0.1%) to the feed mixture for piglets after weaning was studied. 16 piglets in the control group (C – without lecithin) and 16 piglets in an experimental (E) group were monitored in three replications in a 28-day experimental period. We observed higher digestibility of monitored nutrients in the experimental group (crude fat: C = 66.28 ± 12.11, E = 69.75 ± 9.85%, crude protein: C = 78.72 ± 5.47, E = 82.17 ± 2.23%, crude fibre: C = 56.70 ± 12.85, E = 59.10 ± 12.04%, nitrogen free extract: C = 86.67 ± 3.32, E = 87.75 ± 3.00%, ash: C = 63.63 ± 11.59, E = 65.73 ± 10.35%). Statistically insignificantly higher daily average gain (C = 374.1 ± 107.0, E = 399.1 ± 104.7 g) of experimental groups and a lower feed conversion ratio (C = 2.285 ± 0.416, E = 1.768 ± 0.048 kg/kg) were found out. It was also confirmed in an additional field experiment (C = 279, E = 312 piglets from birth to 71 days of age) where average daily gain weight was 270 g in control and 290 g in experimental group. The influence of lecithin on the occurrence of haemolytic strains of Escherichia coli was not proved. This experiment confirmed a positive effect of the lecithin emulsifier supplement on the efficiency of piglets.