Hygiene, water and feed intake post-weaning, protein level in weaning feed and experienced staff were identified as key factors in weaning pigs without the use of in-feed zinc oxide on 12 farms.

The high vitamin levels recommended by DSM led to improved productivity and higher production value compared to the official Danish vitamin standards.

One concept improved productivity and lowered diarrhoea outbreaks compared with feed including zinc oxide. One concept was level with feed including zinc oxide, and two were level with feed without zinc.

The effect of adding 2,500 mg zinc per kg feed 14 d post-weaning did not differ from 1,500 mg zinc, but did improve performance and lowered diarrhoea treatments compared with 0 mg zinc or OceanFeed, MiyaGold and GærPlus in pigs 7-30 kg.

The addition of 0.5% benzoic acid results in the same production value as 1% benzoic acid in combination with 20 ppm copper in feed for weaned pigs. Both levels of benzoic acid result in the same production value as feed containing 150 ppm copper.

A low content of copper in feed for weaned pigs lowers performance, but this is offset by the addition of 1% benzoic acid.

A digestibility trial with weaned piglets comprising seven soybean and rapeseed protein products formed the basis of a revision of the feed ingredient table. Protein digestibility of HP 300, Vilosoy, AlphaSoy PIG 530, Imcosoy and EP 100 were reduced.

Butirex VFA C4, which is a butyric acid product, improves productivity in weaners. Once the costs of adding the product are covered, production value was positively affected when 0.3 % Butirex VFA C4 was added to weaner feed.

Daily gain and FCR improved when weaners were fed a finely ground diet compared with a coarsely ground diet. The addition of BS3 Xylanase also improved gain and FCR.

Weaner productivity was not adversely affected by the addition of 8% conventional rapeseed cake to a starter diet and 15% to a weaner diet. Enlargement of thyroid gland and liver was observed when pigs were fed rapeseed.

Production value dropped by 7-9% in weaners (9-30 kg) fed fermented rapeseed compared with soybean meal and rapeseed cake. Trial results revealed poorer FCR and lower gain, and no effect on health.

The addition of Origina to weaner feed had no effect on weaner productivity

A product trial of five brands of tube feeders for weaners revealed no differences in production value based on weaners’ FCR and daily gain.

Health and productivity did not differ among weaners (11-30 kg) fed soy protein, 15% rapeseed cake. Productivity tended to drop with 15% German or Polish rapeseed meal.

The addition of 15% chicory or 7.5% chicory + 0.5% benzoic acid increased weaner productivity compared with feed with and without 7.5% chicory. No effect was found on health. With the current chicory prices, this is not profitable.

Daka Porcine Plasma had the same effect on weaner productivity as zinc. The effect of using blood plasma and zinc was additive and increased production value by 9%.

Commercial weaner diets from 5 companies purchased in South-East Jutland in the winter 2007/08 were studied. An 18% increase in production was obtained with the diets from Danish Agro compared with control.

0.6% Formi and 0.6% formic acid to weaner feed tended to improve PV by 5% compared with control.

PV dropped when inclusion of soybean meal increased. Up to 35% was gained on the bottom line by using 26-27% soybean meal in weaner feed as the feed price dropped as soybean meal inclusion increased.

The inclusion of EggsTend 88 to weaner feed did not affect productivity. 2,500 ppm zinc in the feed the first 14 d post-weaning significantly reduced diarrhoea and improved productivity.

Weaner diets were purchased from 5 different companies in the winter 2006/07. The trial revealed that the diets from ØA improved production value signigificantly compared with control as well as the other diets.

Diarrhoea treatments dropped significantly when organic acids were added to weaner feed. Mortality also dropped significantly when acid and zinc were added to the feed.

The addition of Aviprox and Aviplus til weaner feed increased the production value significantly. The increase in PV was largely outweighed by increased costs for adding the products.

Simple low-energy diets reduced productivity by 13%, but improved production economy by 18%. An alternative diet without fishmeal, but with coconut oil and dried whey reduced productivity by 7% and improved bottom line results by 7%.

C*HYPROW, hydrolysed wheat protein, in combination with potato protein concentrate may be a realistic alternative to fish meal and soy protein if the price is competitive and amino acid standards are met.

Weaner productivity in the period 0-8 wks post-weaning increased by 6% when the pigs were fed 100% fermented grain in gruel feed the first 3 wks post-weaning followed by pelleted dry feed.