28/02/2014: Swine conference focused on new insights in nutrients

An iteroparous organism is one that can undergo many reproductive events throughout its lifetime. The pig is an example of an iteroparous organism (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Because world demand for feed raw materials for monogastric and especially swine production continues to increase, nutritionists have to look after new ingredients and solutions to optimise their utilization, more than 50 nutritionists attended the  3rd Swine Conference organized by Adisseo in early February in Paris, France. 

A better evaluation of their nutrient content and a broader use of additives, such as enzymes becomes essential, the delegates heard.

Global demand for pork meat continues to increase, especially in China, explained Jan Peter van Ferneij, from the Economic Department of Ifip, the French swine institute. 

In China, pig production is supported by the government, the goal being to satisfy the growing demand of the population. Consequently, Chinese demand for feed raw materials disrupts prices. 

Pierre Sabatier, Economist and Chairman of Studies of PrimeView Agency, emphasized the fact that the general increase of all the commodity prices is due to the entry of China into global trade in 2001. As evidence, between 2001 and 2012, soybean meal prices doubled and fishmeal prices increased three-fold, he explained.

In this economic environment of scarce and expensive raw materials for animal nutrition, Europe, which imports every year 33 million tonnes of soyabean meal from America, must explore new solutions, especially protein sources for feed.

Marinus van Krimpen, Animal Nutrition Researcher, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, made a list of potential European protein sources as alternatives for imported soybean products: Conventional solutions such as oil seeds, legumes but also new sources such as aquatic protein – algae, duckweeds – or even insects which are protein and fat rich ingredients.

But regardless of alternatives, a precise description of the nutrient contents of raw materials is essential. That is why Adisseo has developed PNE, Precise Nutrition Evaluation, a unique service based on the combination of NIR technology and in vivo and in vitro digestibility tests. 

Pascal Thiery, Technical Manager Adisseo, explained how this service allows to predict digestible amino acid contents of raw materials for swine nutrition.

Besides, the context will lead nutritionists to optimize utilization of available raw materials.

Enzymes, especially xylanases and phytases, become essential. Pierre Cozannet, Enzyme Researcher, Adisseo, gave a focus on the strategic use of exogenous enzymes in pig nutrition. He explained that enzymes are extremely specific for a given substrate, and that associations of different enzyme activities are required to degrade the different types of fiber found in raw materials.

For example, very high fiber content diets for pigs lead to a decrease in performance, as shown by trials presented by Florence Gondret, Research Director Inra, France.

Dr Gondret demonstrated that, even with high levels of added oil to reach the target energy content of the diet, pigs cannot adjust feed intake to dietary metabolizable energy level, and that both energy and protein metabolisms are affected by dietary energy sources.

A focus on methionine in pig nutrition was then presented by Yves Mercier, Amino Acids Research Manager, Adisseo. 

Sulphur amino acids are not the first limiting amino acids for swine production, but several trials carried out across the world show that added methionine has a positive effect on average daily gain of piglets and fattening pigs, on sow milk content, and meat tenderness. 

Furthermore, HMTBA, the liquid form which is an organic acid, was shown to contribute to acidification for piglets, and improve gut mucosa and digestible absorption ability.

Adisseo has developed an electronic version of the updated Rhodimet Nutrition Guide (e-RNG). This interactive tool supplies amino acid recommendations for piglets, pigs and sows which vary according to producers’ specific conditions and feeding programs.

Following the success of this meeting and the positive feed back from customers, Adisseo has announced a 4th Swine Conference in 2015.

Pictures

Jan Peter van Verneij, Ifip
Pierre Sabatier, PrimeView
Marinus van Krimpen, Université de Wageningen, Pays-Bas
Pierre Cozannet, Adisseo
Yves Mercier, Adisseo
Pascal Thiery, Adisseo