PSV-14 The Efficacy of Feeding a Bioactive Peptide in Comparison to Narasin in Growing Pigs in a Commercial System on Growth Performance and Efficiency

Abstract

\n At 8-wk post-weaning, pens of split-sexed pigs (26.0 ± 0.25 pigs/pen; 31.3 ± 0.11 kg; DNA genetics) being housed in a commercial research unit were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments to compare the growth performance and efficiency of the system’s commercial nutritional program that included narasin (Skycis™, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) at 13.6 g/tonne to a product (2 kg/tonne) containing a combination of bioactive peptides and enzymes (PEP; Peptiva® Optimo, Vitech Bio-Chem Corporation, Orange, CA). Dietary treatments were fed through 4 phases based on feed budgets. Pens were weighed bi-weekly through 59-d on test. There were 12 replications or pens per treatment. Feed was delivered and measured using a Feed Logic system and weigh backs were conducted utilizing a calibrated ruler. Average daily gain and feed intake were calculated on a pen basis. Data were analyzed as a mixed model with dietary treatment, gender, and treatment x gender interaction included. There were no interactions reported (P ≥ 0.0965). During the study pigs performed at or above their commercial counterparts. Overall, body weight, ADG, and ADFI were not impacted by treatment, but pigs fed PEP had an 2.1% improvement in feed efficiency compared to the narasin fed pigs. These results indicate that feeding bioactive peptides plus enzymes may improve feed efficiency without the need of an ionophore in the grower period in a commercial swine facility.\n