EFFECT OF LAURIC ACID-BASED ADDITIVES ON WEANED PIGLETS

NOREL participated to JRP congress (Swine Days' Research) in France on 4th and 5th February 2020 http://www.journees-recherche-porcine.com/home . During this congress Mrs. Cinta Sol (Product Manager) and Marie Cadieu (Area Manager France) presented a poster showing the results from one trial performed with weaned piglets using Norel’s DICOSAN® product (Middle Chain Fatty acids in form of sodium salts of fatty acid distillates from vegetable origin). The title of this poster is “Effect of lauric acid-based additives on weaning piglets” (poster available in our website www.norel.net). This study evaluated the effect of two feed additives based on lauric acid (LA): Sodium Salts of Medium-chain Fatty Acids Distillates (DICOSAN®) and Monolaurin, on growth performance and fecal score in piglets. The dosage of both products was made at same level of LA (0.96 kg LA/t starter and 0.32 kg LA/t grower). In this trial the results showed that Dicosan, administered in feed, achieved better results than monolaurine and Control group. There were not significant differences in feed conversion ratio compared to positive control with antibiotic (Doxycycline). Mortality and morbidity were lower for DICOSAN® compared to the control group. This is correlated with a reduction of the incidence of diarrhea. In addition to the results presented in poster, DICOSAN® also showed much more similarities in bacterial fingerprint between animals than monolaurine. Even though this is anecdotal, these observations may indicate than DICOSAN has the potential to modify the fecal microbiota and influence the intestinal microorganisms achieving a beneficial microbiota for animals. The potential effects of DICOSAN® are very promising to improve growth performance and intestinal health. This congress was the opportunity for us to work with and share knowledge with companies implicated in pig market and to learn more about the scientific researches done recently in the swine sector.