PSVIII-16 The effects of adding two organic acid blends with or without high levels of zinc or copper, on post-weaning pig performance

Abstract

Abstract A subset of 720 weaned pigs (6.44 ± 0.1 kg, PIC genetics, approximately 21-d of age) were used in a 42-d trial with a 2x3 factorial design evaluating the effects of adding organic acid (OA) blends [factor 1 = no organic acid (NO), Acid Pak 1 (AP1), Acid Pak 2 (AP2)] to diets with or without higher levels of Zn or Cu [factor 2 = +/-PZC] on pig performance. Pigs were allotted 10 pigs/pen to 12 weight blocks and randomly assigned the six dietary treatments. The +PZC diets contained 3000 ppm Zn (d 0-7), 2000 ppm Zn (d 8-21), and 250 ppm Cu (d 21-42) and -PZC diets contained 95 ppm Zn and 20 ppm Cu (d 0-42). The AP1 and AP2 diets used 0.9% of 2 acid premixes (d 0-21), and 0.45% of the premixes (day 22-42). AP1 provided 0.5% benzoic acid, 0.07% sodium butyrate, and 0.025% phosphoric acid (day 0-21) and half those levels (day 22-42). AP2 included the same acids as AP1 but at half the rate and combined with 7 other organic acids and carvacrol. From d 0-21, ADG, ADFI, and G:F were improved (P< 0.01) by +PZC compared to -PZC and by AP1 or AP2 compared to NO (P< 0.02). Overall (d 0-42), ADG and G:F were improved (P< 0.01) by +PZC compared to -PZC and by AP1 or AP2 compared to NO (P< .010). Data from this trial indicate that performance was improved by the addition of both OA and PZC. However, pigs fed OA and -PZC performed similarly to those fed NO and +PZC in the post-weaning period. In summary, regardless of the acid combination, organic acid supplementation has the potential to improve growth performance in weaned pigs.