The effect of fragrance on piglet performance and feed intake is not obvious

Core Tip: Additives are mainly used in suckling pigs to improve palatability and appetite. However, data on the potential impact of the addition of flavoring agents on the feed intake and performance of pre-weaning piglets is quite limited.

Odor is a sensory impression of food or other substances, depending on taste and smell. Additives are mainly used in suckling pigs to improve palatability and appetite. However, data on the potential impact of the addition of flavoring agents on the feed intake and performance of pre-weaning piglets is quite limited.

From the past experience, the early research on feed intake of litter of piglets is mainly determined by observing the consumption of suckling pigs. There is a misleading here because it assumes that all piglets in the same litter consume equal amounts of suckling pigs. The latest research on suckling pigs (with colored markers in the feed) shows that only a certain percentage of piglets will eat dairy pigs. Results In the same litter, the feed intake and growth performance of piglets fed with suckling pigs after weaning were better. Subsequently, researchers attempted to identify factors that would improve piglet feeding in order to improve overall piglet growth performance. One of the key factors may be the smell of suckling pigs. It is also believed that the feed aromas that are in contact with the piglets in the pre-weaning period may improve the performance of the piglets if the same aroma is added to the piglet feed after weaning.

Adding a fragrance

In a recent study, researchers at Kansas State University studied the effects of feed flavors on piglet performance before and after weaning. In the first part of the trial, the researchers set up two experimental groups: one with no flavoring added to the suckling pigs and the other with two flavoring agents. Both groups were fed ad libitum and the feeding time was weaned from the 18th day to the 21st day of lactation. Color markers were added to both groups of feeds, mainly to confirm whether piglets were fed with suckling pigs. All sows were fed the same lactation feed while providing adequate drinking water to both groups of sows and piglets. The study found no significant differences in weaning weight, overall body weight, and average daily gain in all piglets of the two experimental groups (with or without added flavor). In terms of individuals, there was no significant difference in weaning weight, overall body weight, and average daily gain in piglets between the two groups. From this it can be concluded that the addition of flavoring to the piglets has no significant effect on the average daily feed intake of piglets or the proportion of feed piglets fed by litter (Figures 1 and 2).

Figure 1 Effect of flavoring on total feed intake and average daily feed intake of piglets (light grey indicates no fragrance added; dark gray indicates added flavor)

Figure 2 Effect of aromatherapy on piglets fed piglets and piglets without piglets (light grey indicates no fragrance added; dark grey indicates added flavor)

The effect of the fragrance is not obvious?

The flavor agent did not have a significant effect during the test, probably because of the limited feeding time of the piglet feed. In this trial, the researchers selected a 3-day experimental period to reflect mainly that current US farmers are mainly feeding piglets 2 to 7 days before weaning. They believe that adding flavor to the feed must ensure that any effect is seen in a short period of time.

In previous studies, researchers at Kansas State University found that 75% of piglets in litter were concentrated in feed intake 7 days before weaning. They also found that feed intake of piglets 2 days before weaning was equivalent to (or more) feed intake of piglets from 7 to 11 days before piglets. These findings suggest that feed intake in suckling pigs is related to piglet development and not to the duration of feeding of suckling pigs. However, before farmers decided to start reducing the feeding time of suckling pigs, researchers at Kansas State University found that the duration of feeding of suckling pigs did affect the proportion of total piglets fed. In their study, piglets fed continuously for 13 days of suckling pigs were approximately 14% more likely to eat than piglets fed continuously for 6 or 2 days. However, taking a litter of 10 piglets as an example, a 14% increase in the number of feeds is actually an additional piglet.

The importance of suckling pigs

In summary, according to the results of this study, the addition of flavoring agents to suckling pigs is not effective in increasing the performance of piglets before weaning or increasing the number of feeds in littermates. This study highlighted the important role of suckling pig feed in helping piglets transition to pelleted feed. Piglets fed with suckling pigs can increase feed intake and growth performance during the post-weaning period, while the longer the feeding time of the suckling pigs, the more feed intake in litter piglets. However, the economic cost/benefit of additional feed and labor requirements should balance the potential growth of piglet growth performance.